2-Octyl cyanoacetate

Colorless to light yellow liquid

2-octyl cyanoacrylate is one of the most commonly used, commercially-available wound adhesives. Current indications include all easily approximated wounds from surgical incisions or properly cleaned lacerations from trauma in areas that are dry and have minimal friction. It additionally was approved for use in combination with subcuticular sutures for deeper or higher tension wounds.

2-Octyl cyanoacetate was obtained by direct esterification of cyanoacetic acid with octan-2-ol in a 1:1 molar ratio in the presence of two/three drops of 2% concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst and toluene as solvent, to allow for the azeotropic removal of the reaction water.