| Chemical Properties | reddish-brown liquid |
| Occurrence | Mandelonitrile, is a yellow, oily liquid, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and diethyl ether. Mandelonitrile is a component of the glycoside amygdalin, a precursor of laetrile found in the leaves and seeds on most Prunus species (plum, peach, apricot, etc). In 1832, mandelonitrile was the first cyanohydrin to be synthesized. It is commercially prepared from benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Mandelonitrile is used by certain insects (tiger beetles, an African millipede) as a defense fluid. After expelling the fluid an enzyme catalyzes the conversion of mandelonitrile to benzaldehyde and HCN, which is usually fatal to the insect’s enemy. |
| Uses | Mandelonitrile has been used to extract mandeloamide by the nitrilase variants. |
| Definition | ChEBI: A cyanohydrin that is phenylacetonitrile in which one of the methylene hydrogens is replaced by a hydroxy group. |
| General Description | Reddish-brown to dark red-brown liquid. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Mandelonitrile is sensitive to moisture. . Insoluble in water. |
| Reactivity Profile | Nitriles, such as Mandelonitrile, may polymerize in the presence of metals and some metal compounds. They are incompatible with acids; mixing nitriles with strong oxidizing acids can lead to extremely violent reactions. Nitriles are generally incompatible with other oxidizing agents such as peroxides and epoxides. The combination of bases and nitriles can produce hydrogen cyanide. Nitriles are hydrolyzed in both aqueous acid and base to give carboxylic acids (or salts of carboxylic acids). These reactions generate heat. Peroxides convert nitriles to amides. Nitriles can react vigorously with reducing agents. Acetonitrile and propionitrile are soluble in water, but nitriles higher than propionitrile have low aqueous solubility. They are also insoluble in aqueous acids. |
| Health Hazard | TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution. |
| Fire Hazard | Mandelonitrile is combustible. |
| Safety Profile | Poison by intravenous
and subcutaneous routes. Mutation data
reported. A severe eye irritant. When heated
to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of
NOx and CN-. See also NITRILES. |
