Acetonitrile

• Formula: C₂H₃N
• Molecular weight: 41.0519
• IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI=1S/C2H3N/c1-2-3/h1H3 Copy

  
• IUPAC Standard InChIKey: WEVYAHXRMPXWCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copy
• CAS Registry Number: 75-05-8
• Chemical structure:
  This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file or as a computed 3d SD file
  The 3d structure may be viewed using Java or Javascript.
• Other names: Cyanomethane; Ethanenitrile; Ethyl nitrile; Methane, cyano-; Methanecarbonitrile; Methyl cyanide; CH3CN; Acetonitril; Cyanure de methyl; USAF EK-488; Methylkyanid; NA 1648; NCI-C60822; Rcra waste number U003; UN 1648; Ethanonitrile
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• Information on this page:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Condensed phase thermochemistry data
  • Phase change data
  • Reaction thermochemistry data: reactions 1 to 50, reactions 51 to 100, reactions 101 to 150, reactions 151 to 188
  • Henry's Law data
  • Ion clustering data
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • UV/Visible spectrum
  • Gas Chromatography
• Data at other public NIST sites:
  • Gas Phase Kinetics Database
  • X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Database, version 5.0
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Gas phase thermochemistry data

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: Hussein Y. Afeefy, Joel F. Liebman, and Stephen E. Stein

Gas phase ion energetics data

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data evaluated as indicated in comments:
HL - Edward P. Hunter and Sharon G. Lias
L - Sharon G. Lias

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
B - John E. Bartmess
MM - Michael M. Meot-Ner (Mautner)
LL - Sharon G. Lias and Joel F. Liebman
LBLHLM - Sharon G. Lias, John E. Bartmess, Joel F. Liebman, John L. Holmes, Rhoda D. Levin, and W. Gary Mallard
LLK - Sharon G. Lias, Rhoda D. Levin, and Sherif A. Kafafi
RDSH - Henry M. Rosenstock, Keith Draxl, Bruce W. Steiner, and John T. Herron

View reactions leading to C₂H₃N⁺ (ion structure unspecified)

Electron affinity determinations

Proton affinity at 298K

Ionization energy determinations

Appearance energy determinations

De-protonation reactions

C₂H₂N^- +  =

By formula: C₂H₂N^- + H⁺ = C₂H₃N

IR Spectrum

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Data compiled by: Coblentz Society, Inc.

• GAS (80 mmHg, N2 ADDED, TOTAL PRESSURE 600 mmHg); DOW KBr FOREPRISM-GRATING; DIGITIZED BY COBLENTZ SOCIETY (BATCH II) FROM HARD COPY; 2 cm^-1 resolution
• LIQUID (NEAT); BECKMAN IR-9 (GRATING); DIGITIZED BY NIST FROM HARD COPY (FROM TWO SEGMENTS); 4 cm^-1 resolution

Data compiled by: Tanya L. Myers, Russell G. Tonkyn, Ashley M. Oeck, Tyler O. Danby, John S. Loring, Matthew S. Taubman, Stephen W. Sharpe, Jerome C. Birnbaum, and Timothy J. Johnson

• liquid; Bruker Tensor 27 FTIR; 0.48212986 cm^-1 resolution

Data compiled by: NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center, William E. Wallace, director

• gas

Data compiled by: Pamela M. Chu, Franklin R. Guenther, George C. Rhoderick, and Walter J. Lafferty

• gas; IFS66V (Bruker); 3-Term B-H Apodization
  0.1250, 0.2410, 0.4820, 0.9640, 1.9290 cm^-1 resolution
• gas; IFS66V (Bruker); Boxcar Apodization
  0.1250, 0.2410, 0.4820, 0.9640, 1.9290 cm^-1 resolution
• gas; IFS66V (Bruker); Happ Genzel Apodization
  0.1250, 0.2410, 0.4820, 0.9640, 1.9290 cm^-1 resolution
• gas; IFS66V (Bruker); NB Strong Apodization
  0.1250, 0.2410, 0.4820, 0.9640, 1.9290 cm^-1 resolution
• gas; IFS66V (Bruker); Triangular Apodization
  0.1250, 0.2410, 0.4820, 0.9640, 1.9290 cm^-1 resolution

Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels

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Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled by: Takehiko Shimanouchi

Symmetry:   C_3ν     Symmetry Number σ = 3

Source: Shimanouchi, 1972

Notes

References

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, IR Spectrum, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

An and Mansson, 1983
An, X.; Mansson, M., Enthalpies of combustion and formation of acetontrile, J. Chem. Thermodyn., 1983, 15, 287-293. [all data]

Hall and Baldt, 1971
Hall, H.K., Jr.; Baldt, J.H., Thermochemistry of strained-ring bridgehead nitriles and esters, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1971, 93, 140-145. [all data]

Hunter and Lias, 1998
Hunter, E.P.; Lias, S.G., Evaluated Gas Phase Basicities and Proton Affinities of Molecules: An Update, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1998, 27, 3, 413-656, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.556018 . [all data]

Suess, Liu, et al., 2003
Suess, L.; Liu, Y.; Parthasarathy, R.; Dunning, F.B., Dipole-bound negative ions: Collisional destruction and blackbody-radiation-induced photodetachment, J. Chem. Phys., 2003, 119, 24, 12890-12894, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1628215 . [all data]

Bailey, Dessent, et al., 1996
Bailey, C.G.; Dessent, C.E.H.; Johnson, M.A.; Bowen, K.A., Jr., Vibronic Effects in the Photon Energy Dependent Photoelectron Spectra of the CH3CN- Dipole-bound Anion, J. Chem. Phys., 1996, 104, 18, 6976, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.471415 . [all data]

Desfrancois, Abdoul-Carime, et al., 1994
Desfrancois, C.; Abdoul-Carime, H.; Khelifa, N.; Schermann, J.P., Fork 1/r to 1/r2 Potentials: Electron Exchange between Rydberg Atoms and Polar Molecules, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1994, 73, 18, 2436, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.73.2436 . [all data]

Williams, Denault, et al., 2001
Williams, T.I.; Denault, J.W.; Cooks, R.G., Proton Affinity of Deuterated Acetonitrile Estimated by the Kinetic Method with Full Entropy Analysis, Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 2001, 210/211, 133. [all data]

Gochel-Dupuis, Delwiche, et al., 1992
Gochel-Dupuis, M.; Delwiche, J.; Hubin-Franskin, M.-J.; Collin, J.E., High-resolution HeI photoelectron spectrum of acetonitrile, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1992, 193, 41. [all data]

Harland and McIntosh, 1985
Harland, P.W.; McIntosh, B.J., Enthalpies of formation for the isomeric ions H_xCCN⁺ and H_xCNC⁺ (x = 0-3) by monochromatic electron impact on C₂N₂, CH₃CN and CH₃NC., Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes, 1985, 67, 29. [all data]

Chess, Lapp, et al., 1982
Chess, E.K.; Lapp, R.L.; Gross, M.L., The question of tautomerism of alkylnitrile and isonitrile radical cations, Org. Mass Spectrom., 1982, 17, 475. [all data]

Allam, Migahed, et al., 1982
Allam, S.H.; Migahed, M.D.; El-Khodary, A., Electron impact ionization and dissociation of deuterated and non-deuterated methanol, methyl cyanide, nitromethane and nitrobenzene, Egypt. J. Phys., 1982, 13, 167. [all data]

Rider, Ray, et al., 1981
Rider, D.M.; Ray, G.W.; Darland, E.J.; Leroi, G.E., A photoionization mass spectrometric investigation of CH₃CN and CD₃CN, J. Chem. Phys., 1981, 74, 1652. [all data]

Kimura, Katsumata, et al., 1981
Kimura, K.; Katsumata, S.; Achiba, Y.; Yamazaki, T.; Iwata, S., Ionization energies, Ab initio assignments, and valence electronic structure for 200 molecules in Handbook of HeI Photoelectron Spectra of Fundamental Organic Compounds, Japan Scientific Soc. Press, Tokyo, 1981. [all data]

Staley, Kleckner, et al., 1976
Staley, R.H.; Kleckner, J.E.; Beauchamp, J.L., Relationship between orbital ionization energies and molecular properties. Proton affinities and photoelectron spectra of nitriles, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1976, 98, 2081. [all data]

Lake and Thompson, 1970
Lake, R.F.; Thompson, H., The photoelectron spectra of some molecules containing the C N group, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), 1970, A317, 187. [all data]

Frost, Herring, et al., 1970
Frost, D.C.; Herring, F.G.; McDowell, C.A.; Stenhouse, I.A., The ionization potentials of methyl cyanide and methyl acetylene by photoelectron spectroscopy and semi-rigorous LCAO SCF calculations, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1970, 4, 533. [all data]

Dibeler and Liston, 1968
Dibeler, V.H.; Liston, S.K., Mass-spectrometric study of photoionization. IX. Hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile, J. Chem. Phys., 1968, 48, 4765. [all data]

Franklin, Wada, et al., 1966
Franklin, J.L.; Wada, Y.; Natalis, P.; Hierl, P.M., Ion-molecule reactions in acetonitrile and propionitrile, J. Phys. Chem., 1966, 70, 2353. [all data]

Nicholson, 1965
Nicholson, A.J.C., Photoionization-efficiency curves. II. False and genuine structure, J. Chem. Phys., 1965, 43, 1171. [all data]

Watanabe, Nakayama, et al., 1962
Watanabe, K.; Nakayama, T.; Mottl, J., Ionization potentials of some molecules, J. Quant. Spectry. Radiative Transfer, 1962, 2, 369. [all data]

Asbrink, Von Niessen, et al., 1980
Asbrink, L.; Von Niessen, W.; Bieri, G., 30.4-nm He(II) photoelectron spectra of organic molecules, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1980, 21, 93. [all data]

Reed and Snedden, 1956
Reed, R.I.; Snedden, W., Studies in electron impact methods. Part 6.-The formation of the methine and carbon ions, J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans., 1956, 55, 876. [all data]

Haney and Franklin, 1968
Haney, M.A.; Franklin, J.L., Correlation of excess energies of electron-impact dissociations with the translational energies of the products, J.Chem. Phys., 1968, 48, 4093. [all data]

Holmes, Lossing, et al., 1993
Holmes, J.L.; Lossing, F.P.; Mayer, P.M., The effects of methyl substitution on the structure and thermochemistry of the cyanomethyl radical and cation, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1993, 212, 134. [all data]

Pottie and Lossing, 1961
Pottie, R.F.; Lossing, F.P., Free radicals by mass spectrometry. XXV. Ionization potentials of cyanoalkyl radicals, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1961, 83, 4737. [all data]

Bartmess, Scott, et al., 1979
Bartmess, J.E.; Scott, J.A.; McIver, R.T., Jr., The gas phase acidity scale from methanol to phenol, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1979, 101, 6047. [all data]

Graul and Squires, 1990
Graul, S.T.; Squires, R.R., Gas-Phase Acidities Derived from Threshold Energies for Activated Reactions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 7, 2517, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00163a007 . [all data]

Cumming and Kebarle, 1978
Cumming, J.B.; Kebarle, P., Summary of gas phase measurements involving acids AH. Entropy changes in proton transfer reactions involving negative ions. Bond dissociation energies D(A-H) and electron affinities EA(A), Can. J. Chem., 1978, 56, 1. [all data]

Zimmerman and Brauman, 1977
Zimmerman, A.H.; Brauman, J.I., Electron photodetachment from negative ions of C_2v symmetry. Electron affinities of allyl and cyanomethyl radicals, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1977, 99, 3565. [all data]

Heni and Illenberger, 1986
Heni, M.; Illenberger, E., Electron attachment by saturated nitriles. Acrylonitrile (CH₂H₃CN), and benzonitrile (C₆H₅CN), Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1986, 73, 127. [all data]

Shimanouchi, 1972
Shimanouchi, T., Tables of Molecular Vibrational Frequencies Consolidated Volume I, National Bureau of Standards, 1972, 1-160. [all data]

Notes

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Gas phase ion energetics data, IR Spectrum, Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels, References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  AE	Appearance energy
  EA	Electron affinity
  IE (evaluated)	Recommended ionization energy
  ΔfH°gas	Enthalpy of formation of gas at standard conditions
  ΔrG°	Free energy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrH°	Enthalpy of reaction at standard conditions

• Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
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