p-Nitrophenylacetonitrile

Cream to yellow crystalline powder

p-Nitrophenylacetonitrile is used as a radical inhibitor in the polymerization of vinyl acetate.

In the preparation of p-nitrophenylacetic acid.

4-Nitrophenylacetonitrile is used as a radical inhibitor in the polymerization of vinyl acetate. Toxic compound to tetrahymena pyriformis.

Tetrahedron Letters, 20, p. 1361, 1979 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)86150-5
The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 52, p. 648, 1987 DOI: 10.1021/jo00380a028

Toxic material

Poison by intravenous route. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx and CNí. See also NITRILES and NITRO COMPOUNDS OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

Crystallise the nitrile from EtOH. TOXIC. [Beilstein 9 H 456, 9 I 183, 9 II 313, 9 III 2291.]