[109-77-3] Malononitrile

Malononitrile is a colorless or white solid organic compound, turning yellow or brown as it ages. It's widely used in chemical manufacturing, especially for making medicines and dyes. Commonly produced by reacting acetonitrile with cyanogen chloride, it can also be made from cyanoacetamide, though this method is mostly used in regions with looser environmental regulations. Around 20 million kilograms are produced annually (as of 2007). It's a key ingredient in synthesizing vitamin B1 (thiamine), drugs like triamterene and minoxidil, and dyes such as Disperse Yellow 90 and Disperse Blue 354. Malononitrile is relatively acidic (pKa ~11), which makes it useful in reactions like the Knoevenagel condensation, often used in organic synthesis to link molecules.