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207810

Sigma-Aldrich

Potassium cyanide

ACS reagent, ≥96.0%

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
KCN
CAS Number:
151-50-8
Molecular Weight:
65.12
Beilstein:
3593645
EC Number:
205-792-3
MDL number:
MFCD00011397
UNSPSC Code:
12352302
PubChem Substance ID:
329752024
NACRES:
NA.21

grade

ACS reagent

Quality Level

200

Assay

≥96.0%

form

granular

pH

11.5 (20 °C, 20 g/L)

mp

634 °C (lit.)

solubility

water: soluble(lit.)

anion traces

S2-: ≤0.003%
SCN-: passes test
chloride (Cl-): ≤0.5%
phosphate (PO43-): ≤0.005%
sulfate (SO42-): ≤0.04%

cation traces

Fe: ≤0.03%
Na: ≤0.5%
Pb: ≤2 ppm

SMILES string

[K]C#N

InChI

1S/CN.K/c1-2;

InChI key

YUZRZFQHUCKACF-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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General description

Potassium cyanide is a colorless hygroscopic compound. Its crystals exhibit cubic crystal system. It can be prepared by reacting hydrogen cyanide with potassium hydroxide. It participates in benzoin condensation reaction.

Application

Potassium cyanide may be employed in the following studies:
  • As a reducing agent in the colorimetric determination of amino acids.
  • Preparation of ferrocylacetonitrile, via reaction with methiodide of N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocene.
  • Synthesis of O-acetylcyanohydrins.
  • Cyanation of aldimines via asymmetric Strecker-type reactions in the presence of chiral phase-transfer catalysts to form α-amino nitriles.
  • Metal-catalyzed addition of cyanide to 1,2-epoxides to form β-hydroxy nitriles.

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 1 Oral - Acute Tox. 2 Dermal - Acute Tox. 2 Inhalation - Aquatic Acute 1 - Aquatic Chronic 1 - Met. Corr. 1 - STOT RE 1

Target Organs

Thyroid

Supplementary Hazards

EUH032

Storage Class Code

6.1A - Combustible acute toxic Cat. 1 and 2 / very toxic hazardous materials

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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Eagleson M.
Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry, 18-18 (1994)
Easy direct stereo-and regioselective formation of ?-hydroxy nitriles by reaction of 1, 2-epoxides with potassium cyanide in the presence of metal salts.
Chini M, et al.
Tetrahedron Letters, 32(36), 4775-4778 (1991)
Asymmetric Strecker reaction of aldimines using aqueous potassium cyanide by phase-transfer catalysis of chiral quaternary ammonium salts with a tetranaphthyl backbone.
Ooi T, et al.
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128(8), 2548-2549 (2006)
Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of O-acetylcyanohydrins from potassium cyanide, acetic anhydride, and aldehydes, promoted by chiral salen complexes of titanium (IV) and vanadium (V).
Belokon YN, et al.
Helvetica Chimica Acta, 85(10), 3301-3312 (2002)
Reaction of the Methiodide of N, N-Dimethylaminomethylferrocene with Potassium Cyanide to Form Ferrocylacetonitrile1.
Lednicer D, et al.
The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 23(5), 653-655 (1958)
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