Chemical Properties
SLIGHTLY YELLOW NEEDLE-LIKE CRYSTALLINE POWDER
Uses
Benzylidenemalononitrile was used in fluorescence-based assay for determination of soluble methane monooxygenase activity in solution.
General Description
Benzylidenemalononitrile undergoes rapid and catalyst-free solid/vapor reaction with primary alkyl amines to yield
N-benzylidene-amine. It undergoes addition reaction with octyl- and decylzirconocene chloride. It is a potential substrate for soluble methane monooxygenase.
Synthesis
Benzaldehyde (1.0eq) was put into a 250mL round-bottomed flask, distilled water (100mL) was added as solvent, put into a clean stirrer, and then malononitrile (1.2eq) was added, and the reaction was placed at room temperature for 12 h. After the reaction was finished by TLC, a large amount of solid was precipitated, and it was filtered, and the cake was washed with petroleum ether, and the white solid product, benzylidene malononitrile, was dried.
Purification Methods
Recrystallise the nitrile from EtOH [Bernasconi et al. J Am Chem Soc 107 3612 1985]. It has max at 307nm (EtOH). [Beilstein 9 H 895, 9 II 640, 9 III 4380, 9 IV 3462.]
