Methyl cyanoformate is the organic compound with the formula CH3OC(O)CN. It is used as a reagent in organic synthesis as a source of the methoxy carbonyl group , in which context it is also known as Mander's reagent. It was also the active ingredient in the pesticide product Zyklon A.
Colorless liquid; ethereal odor. Decomposedby alkalies and water. Soluble in alcohol, benzene,ether.
Selective acylating reagent.
Purify the ester by fractionation through a 45cm glass helices packed column or a 30cm spinning band column. [Sheppard J Org Chem 27 3756 1962.] It has been distilled through a short Vigreux column (p 11), and further purified by recrystallisation from Et2O at -40o as white crystals which melt at room temperature. NMR: 4.0 ( C3), and IR: 2250 (CN) and 1750 (CO) cm-1 . [Childes & Weber JOrg Chem 41 3486 1976, Beilstein 2 III 1587.]
