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3-Hydroxypropionitrile is an aliphatic nitrile to which a hydroxyl group is attached
at the ?-carbon. The nitrogen atom contains a lone pair of electrons, which is
largely responsible for the polarization of the C≡N triple bond. Because of the greater electronegativity of nitrogen compared to carbon, nucleophilic compounds can attack the electrophilic carbon atom (Schaefer 1970), although the nitrogen atom is an excellent donor site for complexing with Lewis acids (Sheppard 1970).
The hydroxyl functional group on the other end of the molecule is also polar; like
the nitrile nitrogen, its oxygen is basic and nucleophilic. Reactions of the -OH
group can involve the breaking of either of two bonds: the C-OH bond, with
removal of the -OH group; or the O-H bond, with removal of -H. Either kind of
reaction can involve substitution, in which a group replaces the -H or -OH, or
elimination, in which a double bond is formed (Morrison and Boyd 1973). The
aliphatic ethyl group separating the hydroxyl and nitrile groups, by its electron
releasing inductive effect, lowers the reactivity of 3-Hydroxypropionitrile in nucleophilic addition reactions (Schaefer 1970) and stabilizes the compound. Apparently, when the hydroxyl group is in the beta position relative to the nitrile group,
the compound is not readily hydrolyzed in the body to release cyanide (H?rtung
1982). When heated to decomposition, 3-Hydroxypropionitrile may produce toxic
fumes of hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides (Lenga 1985).
It will react with water or steam to produce toxic and flammable vapors (Sax
1984).
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3-Hydroxypropionitrile does not occur as a natural product. Nevertheless, it may
enter natural waters because it is present in concentrations between 2000 and 4000
p.p.m. in polyacrylimide polymers (Ikeda 1978) which are used as coagulants in
water and wastewater purification. 3-Hydroxypropionitrile may leach from the
polymer and enter the water being treated with the coagulant. Since acrylimide
polymers are generally present at concentrations up to 1 p.p.m. during water
purification (Sauerhoff et al 1976), if all the 3-Hydroxypropionitrile were extracted
from the polymer, the concentration in water might be as high as 4 p.p.b.
Fortunately, up to 99% of the 3-Hydroxypropionitrile may be removed by treatment
with activated carbon in countercurrent multistage fluidized beds (Sasaoka
1975).
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3-Hydroxypropionitrile has been used as polar solvent to investigate the orientation of the phospholipid at the surface of the polar solvents by neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy and as a reagent for carboxyl protection in peptide synthesis. It has been used also in solid state composite electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells.
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3-Hydroxypropionitrile can be prepared by reacting ethylene chlorohydrin with
sodium cyanide (Kendall and McKenzie 1923; Britton et al 1941; Fukui et al
1961), by reacting ethylene oxide and hydrogen cyanide in an alkaline medium
(Badische Anilin and Soda-Fabrik 1966), or by treating an aqueous solution
containing 2.5 vol% acrylonitrile with an alkali catalyst (Howsmon 1962).
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Colorless to yellow-brown liquid with a weak odor. Sinks and mixes with water.
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Water soluble. Reacts with water and steam to emit highly toxic, flammable vapors.
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3-Hydroxypropionitrile reacts violently with mineral acids, amines and inorganic bases. 3-Hydroxypropionitrile also reacts violently with chlorosulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, oleum and sodium hydroxide. 3-Hydroxypropionitrile is incompatible with bases, oxidizing agents, moisture and heat. 3-Hydroxypropionitrile is corrosive to mild steel.
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Toxic by ingestion.
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3-Hydroxypropionitrile is considered to be moderately hazardous by ingestion and
skin contact, and slightly hazardous by inhalation (Parmeggiani 1983). Although
there is no record of industrial poisoning from 3-Hydroxypropionitrile (Williams
1959), the liquid may cause eye irritation, and ingestion of the liquid may cause
severe kidney damage (DeRenzo 1986). On the basis of available information,
3-Hydroxypropionitrile is not a carcinogen.
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An 3-Hydroxypropionitrile feedstock was widely used for manufacturing acrylonitrile
until an acetylene-based process began to replace it in 1953. Although the maximum use of 3-Hydroxypropionitrile to produce acrylonitrile occurred in 1963,
acrylonitrile has not been produced by this route since 1970 (Cholod 1979).
3-Hydroxypropionitrile was also used in the first commercial process for manufacture
of acrylic acid and acrylates. However, this route is no longer commercially
significant (Cholod 1979). 3-Hydroxypropionitrile is a solvent for some cellulose
esters and many inorganic salts (Stecher 1976). Basic dyes, as free base or
inorganic or organic salt, are dissolved in 3-Hydroxypropionitrile to yield solutions
especially useful for dyeing poly-acrylonitrile textiles (Farbenfabriken Bayer
1966). 3-Hydroxypropionitrile is added to nitrocellulose propellant compounds to
provide a reasonably short cure cycle at room temperature (Lampert 1969). It is a
selective washing solvent for the removal of carbon dioxide and other acidic gases
from natural and process gas streams (Pure Oil Co. 1966). 3-Hydroxypropionitrile
can also be used in the preparation of ?-alanine (Boatwright 1956), and has been
used as a foundation fixative for road construction (Hirose et al 1980).
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