Lithium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula LiCN. It is a toxic, white coloured, hygroscopic, water-soluble salt that finds only niche uses.
Preparation
LiCN is produced from the reaction of lithium hydroxide and hydrogen cyanide. A laboratory-scale preparation uses acetone cyanohydrin as a surrogate for HCN:1
(CH3)2C(OH)CN + LiH → (CH3)2CO + LiCN + H2Uses
The compound decomposes to cyanamide and carbon when heated to a temperature close to but below 600 °C. Acids react to give hydrogen cyanide.2
Lithium cyanide can be used as a reagent for organic compound cyanation.3
RX + LiCN → RCN + LiXReferences
Livinghouse, Tom (1981). "Trimethylsilyl Cyanide: Cyanosilylation of p-Benzoquinone". Org. Synth. 60: 126. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.060.0126. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
L. Pesce (2010). "Cyanides". Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/0471238961.0325011416051903.a01.pub2. ISBN 978-0471238966. 978-0471238966 ↩
Harusawa, Shinya; Yoneda, Ryuji; Omori, Yukie; Kurihara, Takushi (1987). "Non-aqueous cyanation of halides using lithium cyanide". Tetrahedron Letters. 28 (36). Elsevier: 4189–4190. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)95575-8. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩