colourless to slightly yellow liquid
Trichloroacetonitrile is involved as a reagent in Overman rearrangement, which is used to prepare alylic amines from allylic alcohols. It is also used to prepare bistrichloroacetimidates from diols leading to dihyrooxazines through acid catalyzed cyclization. Further, it is utilized in the synthesis of trichloroacetimidates by 1,8-Diazobicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) catalyzed addition of allylic alcohols. It finds application in the study of the methoxy methyl (MOM) catalyzed aza-Claisen rearrangement.
ChEBI: Trichloroacetonitrile is an aliphatic nitrile and an organochlorine compound.
Trichloroacetonitrile can be obtained by dehydration of trichloroacetamide with phosphorous pentoxide or by chlorination of acetonitrile with chlorine. Vapor phase chlorination in the presence of water and photochemical chlorination in the presence of catalysts such as HgCl2 or AlCl3 have been reported. Trichloroacetonitrile is an organic intermediate used, for example, in the synthesis of the fungicide etridiazole.
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
May be sensitive to light and heat. Trichloroacetonitrile may react with water, steam, acid or acid fumes. Trichloroacetonitrile may hydrolyze under acidic or alkaline conditions. . The reaction of benzene and Trichloroacetonitrile evolves toxic chloroform and HCl gasses. (Hagedorn, F., H.-P. Gelbke, and Federal Republic of Germany. 2002. Nitriles. In Ullman Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.).
Strong irritant to tissue. Questionable carcinogen.
Trichloroacetonitrile is combustible.
Poison by ingestion and
intravenous routes. Moderately toxic by
inhalation and skin contact. Human
mutation data reported. A skin and severe
eye irritant. An experimental teratogen.
Other experimental reproductive effects.
When heated to decomposition or in
reaction with water, steam, acid, or acid
fumes it produces toxic fumes of CN-, Cl-,
and NOx. Used as an insecticide. See also
NITRILES and CYANIDE.
