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Glycolonitrile

CAS No.
107-16-4
Chemical Name:
Glycolonitrile
Synonyms
2-HYDROXYACETONITRILE;HYDROXYACETONITRILE;Acetonitrile, hydroxy-;FORMALDEHYDE CYANOHYDRIN;Glyconitrile;HOCH2CN;usafa-8565;USAF a-8565;Glykolonitril;cyanomethanol
CBNumber:
CB4781244
Molecular Formula:
C2H3NO
Molecular Weight:
57.05
MDL Number:
MFCD00042731
MOL File:
107-16-4.mol
Last updated:2026-08-25 20:17:46

Glycolonitrile Properties

Melting point -72°C
Boiling point 183°C
Density 1.076 g/mL at 20 °C
refractive index n20/D 1.389
Flash point 133 °F
pka 11.31±0.10(Predicted)
Water Solubility >=10 g/100 mL at 20 ºC
Henry's Law Constant 1.3×100 mol/(m3Pa) at 25℃, HSDB (2015)
Dielectric constant 27.0(20℃)
Stability Stable, but may react violently with alkalies. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
InChI 1S/C2H3NO/c3-1-2-4/h4H,2H2
InChIKey LTYRAPJYLUPLCI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES OCC#N
CAS DataBase Reference 107-16-4(CAS DataBase Reference)
EWG's Food Scores 1
FDA UNII ZCI474BE63
NIST Chemistry Reference Acetonitrile, hydroxy-(107-16-4)
EPA Substance Registry System Formaldehyde cyanohydrin (107-16-4)
UNSPSC Code 12352100
NACRES NA.22

SAFETY

Risk and Safety Statements

Symbol(GHS)  Skull and Crossbones (GHS06)
GHS06
Signal word  Danger
Hazard statements  H300+H310+H330
Precautionary statements  P260-P262-P264-P280-P302+P352+P310-P304+P340+P310
Hazard Codes  T+
Risk Statements  26/27/28
Safety Statements  36/37/39-45-36/37-28
RIDADR  UN 3276 6.1/PG 1
OEL Ceiling: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) [15-minute]
WGK Germany  -
RTECS  AM0350000
TSCA  TSCA listed
HazardClass  6.1(a)
PackingGroup  I
Storage Class 6.1A - Combustible acute toxic Cat. 1 and 2
very toxic hazardous materials
Hazard Classifications Acute Tox. 2 Dermal
Acute Tox. 2 Inhalation
Acute Tox. 2 Oral
Hazardous Substances Data 107-16-4(Hazardous Substances Data)
Toxicity mouse,LCLo,inhalation,27ppm/8H (27ppm),BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY)SENSE ORGANS AND SPECIAL SENSES: LACRIMATION: EYE,"Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W.B., New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1969Vol. -, Pg. 290, 1969.

Glycolonitrile price More Price(2)

Manufacturer Product number Product description CAS number Packaging Price Updated Buy
Sigma-Aldrich 50640 Glycolic acid nitrile solution ~70% in H2O 107-16-4 10ml $152 2026-04-30 Buy
Sigma-Aldrich 50640 Glycolic acid nitrile solution ~70% in H2O 107-16-4 50mL $527 2026-04-30 Buy
Product number Packaging Price Buy
50640 10ml $152 Buy
50640 50mL $527 Buy

Glycolonitrile Chemical Properties, Uses, Production

Description

Formaldehyde cyanohydrin is a colorless,odorless oily liquid with a sweetish taste. Molecularweight=57.06; Boiling point=186℃ (slight decomposition); Freezing/Melting point #272℃; Flash point≥93℃. Hazard Identification (based on NFPA-704 MRating System): Health 4, Flammability 2, Reactivity 2.Soluble in water.

Chemical Properties

light yellow liquid (typically available as a concentrated. Glycolonitrile [107-16-4], hydroxyacetonitrile, formaldehyde cyanohydrin, HOCH2CN, Mr 57.05, bp 183℃ (slight decomp.), d154 1.104, n20D1.4117. Anhydrous glycolonitrile is a colorless liquid which is miscible with water, ethanol and diethyl ether.

Chemical Properties

Formaldehyde cyanohydrin is a colorless, odorless, oily liquid. Sweet taste (very highly toxic; do not test).

Uses

Solvent and organic intermediate.

Production Methods

Glycolonitrile is the result of reaction between formaldehyde and aqueous sodium cyanide in the presence of mineral acid.

Definition

ChEBI: Glycolonitrile is an cyanohydrin that is acetonitrile in which one of the hydrogens has been replaced by a hydroxy group.

General Description

Odorless colorless oil with a sweetish taste. Used in the manufacture of intermediates in pharmaceutical production, as a component of synthetic resins, as a chemical intermediate for organic compounds, and as a solvent.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Glycolonitrile may undergo spontaneous and violent decomposition. Traces of alkali (base) promote violent polymerization [Lewis].

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption.

Health Hazard

Extremely toxic, exposure by any route should be avoided; may have fatal consequences; death from asphyxiation may occur similar to that resulting from hydrogen cyanide.

Fire Hazard

Moderate explosion hazard when exposed to heat or by spontaneous chemical reaction in the presence of alkalies if uninhibited. When heated to decomposition, Glycolonitrile emits highly toxic fumes of cyanide and nitrogen oxides. Unstable, may explode on standing. Hazardous polymerization may occur. avoid the presence of alkalis, and exposure to heat.

Potential Exposure

Formaldehyde cyanohydrin is used in the manufacture of intermediates in pharmaceutical produc tion and as a component of synthetic resins as a chemical intermediate for organic compounds, and as a solvent.

First aid

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 min,occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, removecontaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap andwater. Speed in removing material from skin is of extremeimportance. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescuebreathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitationmask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action hasstopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When thischemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Givelarge quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make anunconscious person vomit. Keep victim quiet and maintainnormal body temperature. Effects may be delayed; keep victimunder observation. Use amyl nitrate capsules if symptomsdevelop. All area employees should be trained regularly inemergency measures for cyanide poisoning and in CPR. Acyanide antidote kit should be kept in the immediate workarea and must be rapidly available. Kit ingredients should bereplaced every 1-2 years to ensure freshness. Persons trainedin the use of this kit, oxygen use, and CPR must be quicklyavailable.

storage

Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Store ina secure poison location. Prior to working with this chemicalyou should be trained on its proper handling and storage.Store in a refrigerator under an inert atmosphere and awayfrom all alkaline materials. Where possible, automaticallypump liquid from storage containers to process containers.

Shipping

UN3276 Nitriles, liquid, toxic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required, Potential Inhalation Hazard (Special Provision 5). UN2810 Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required.

Incompatibilities

Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explo sions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, and exposure to heat. Unless stabilized with a weak acid solution, traces of alka lis may cause violent polymerization.

cyanomethanol GLYCOLONITRILE GLYCOLIC ACID NITRILE FORMALDEHYDE CYANHYDRIN 2-Hydroxymethylnitrile Glykolonitril HOCH2CN hydroxy-acetonitril Hydroxyactonitrile hydroxyazetonitril Hydroxymethylkyanid Hydroxymethylnitrile methylenecyanohydrin USAF a-8565 usafa-8565 FORMALDEHYDE CYANOHYDRIN glycollonitrile 2-Hydroxyethanenitrile alpha-hydroxyacetonitrile alpha-hydroxymethylcyanide Cyanomethanol,glycolonitrile Glycolic nitrile glycolicacidnitrilesolution glycolicnitrile Glyconitrile GLYCOLIC ACID NITRILE SOLUTION, ~70% IN WATER, STAB. GLYCOLIC ACID NITRILE SOLUTION, ~55% IN WATER GLYCOLONITRILE, 55 WT. % SOLUTION IN WAT ER GLYCOLONITRILE: (50% IN WATER), (STABILIZED WITH H2SO4) GLYCOLIC ACID NITRILE SOLUTION, 55% SOLUTION IN WATER Glycolonitrile (ca. 52% in Water, ca. 9.7mol/L) (stabilized with H2SO4) Formaldehyde cyanohydrin: (Hydroxyacetonitrile: Glycolonitrile) glycolonitrile (70 wt % in water) Formaldehyde cyanohydrin, Glycolic acid nitrile solution, Hydroxyacetonitrile Formaldehyde cyanohydrin, Hydroxyacetonitrile Glycolonitrile,Formaldehyde cyanohydrin, Glycolic acid nitrile solution, Hydroxyacetonitrile Formaldehyde Cyanhydrin Hydroxyacetonitrile 2-Hydroxyacetonitrile Glycolonitrile Glycolonitrile(hydroxyacetonitrile Acetonitrile, 2-hydroxy- ydroxyacetonitrile GLYCOLONITRILE 107-16-4 2-HYDROXYACETONITRILE Acetonitrile, hydroxy- HYDROXYACETONITRILE 107-16-4 C2H3NO ALCOHOL Building Blocks C1 to C5 Carboxylic Acids Carbonyl Compounds Organic Building Blocks Nitrogen Compounds Cyanides/Nitriles