acetonitrilen.
/əˌsiːtəʊˈnʌɪtrʌɪl/, /ˌasɪtəʊˈnʌɪtrʌɪl/, U.S. /ˌæsəˌtoʊˈnaɪtrᵻl/, /əˈsidoʊˈnaɪtrᵻl/, /ˌæsəˌtoʊˈnaɪˌtraɪl/, /əˈsidoʊˈnaɪˌtraɪl/ Chemistry.
A sweet-smelling toxic liquid used in organic synthesis and as a solvent, esp. in high performance liquid chromatography.Acetonitrile is the simplest of the nitriles. Formula: CH3CN. Also called methyl cyanide.
ΚΠ
1849 Ann. Rep. Progr. Chem. 1 456 Acetonitrile... Its composition is C4H3N.
1877 G. Fownes Man. Elem. Chem. (ed. 12) II. 92 The bodies obtained by these two processes are oily liquids..Methyl cyanide, ethenyl-nitril, or acetonitril, boils at 77°.
1907 G. M. Norman Systematic Pract. Org. Chem. i. vii. 29 Acetonitrile (methyl cyanide). CH3CN. Preparation.—Mix 25 grammes of acetamide with 62 grammes of phosphorus pentoxide in a distilling flask.
1955 B. C. L. Kemp Elem. Org. Chem. (new ed.) xi. 161 Acetonitrile is a colourless liquid with a strong ethereal smell.
2002 Birmingham Post 19 Apr. 3 A bottle containing several pints of the solvent acetonitrile fell off a trolley..and 25 firemen were called.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1849