What are nitriles?
Nitriles contain the -CN group, and used to be known as cyanides. Some simple nitriles The smallest organic nitrile is ethanenitrile, CH3CN, (old name: methyl cyanide or acetonitrile – and sometimes now called ethanonitrile). Hydrogen cyanide, HCN, doesn’t usually count as organic, even though it contains a carbon atom. Notice the triple bond between the carbon and nitrogen in the -CN group. The three simplest nitriles are: CH3CNethanenitrile CH3CH2CNpropanenitrile CH3CH2CH2CNbutanenitrile When you are counting the length of the carbon chain, don’t forget the carbon in the -CN group. If the chain is branched, this carbon usually counts as the number 1 carbon.
