Chemists started paying more attention to aromatic nitriles in the mid-20th century once industry recognized their value as versatile building blocks. The addition of fluorine atoms, particularly trifluoromethyl groups, made these molecules stand out for their stability and reactivity. 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile entered the synthetic game not as a household name, but as one of those quietly influential intermediates, especially useful for the medicinal and materials sciences. The molecule’s roots trace back to research groups searching for ways to introduce strong electron-withdrawing features into aromatic systems, which would open doors to pharmaceuticals and specialty polymers you can spot in cutting-edge tech and drug development.
Picture a white-to-light yellow crystalline powder, notable for its robustness and punchy trifluoromethyl flair. 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile caters to chemists hunting for nitrile compounds with a kicked-up chemical personality – the amino group sitting just opposite the nitrile on the benzene gives it a dual character, combining nucleophilic and electrophilic centers on the same molecule. This enables all sorts of clever synthetic maneuvers in the lab. The item holds value in research kits and pilot projects at pharmaceutical labs, as well as in specialty chemical manufacturing, due to its ability to serve as a starting point for advanced heterocyclic compounds.
This aromatic compound exhibits a melting point around 52-56°C and resists water solubility thanks to the trifluoromethyl group, yet it dissolves in most organic solvents, such as acetone and dichloromethane, making it useful for a wide range of laboratory methods. The fluorinated side chain does not just give it chemical strength, it helps stabilize the whole molecule, reducing hydrogen bonding and potential side reactions. On the reactivity front, the amino group acts as a nucleophile, welcomed in coupling or substitution chemistry, while the trifluoromethyl group ensures the molecule can survive harsh conditions you sometimes get in late-stage synthesis.
Commercial suppliers, including Sigma-Aldrich and TCI, offer this compound with purity above 97%. Labels must specify the UN number (UN1992 for nitriles), warn of possible inhalation and skin hazards, and show both the CAS number (328-84-7) and the molecular formula (C8H5F3N2). Most bottles, from lab scale up to industrial size, arrive with easy-to-scan QR codes for inventory and hazard statements, reflecting the increasing push for traceability. Quality control centers on confirming its identity by NMR and HPLC, as off-specification material will ruin any attempt at multistep synthesis downstream.
Lab groups employ either traditional Sandmeyer-like reactions or nucleophilic aromatic substitution strategies. A classic approach involves fluorination of an aminobenzonitrile precursor, followed by trifluoromethylation using reagents like Ruppert-Prakash reagent (TMSCF3) or a copper-mediated process. Labs using greener methods might skip heavy metals and focus on catalytic trifluoromethylation under milder conditions with improved yields. The emphasis is always on clean separation and minimizing hydrolysis of either nitrile or amino groups, which hang in the balance through every heating and extraction cycle.
The reactivity centers primarily on the amino and nitrile groups, making it a springboard for a cascade of transformations. Chemists can imagine direct acylations on the amino group, or they can swap out the nitrile for carboxamide or tetrazole, accessing bioactive motifs found in new-generation pharmaceuticals. Electrophilic aromatic substitution becomes more complicated with the trifluoromethyl group locking up electron density, but this same effect lets the molecule survive reaction conditions that would tear up less-protected aromatics. Modifications often target the synthesis of quinazolines, or for further fluorination steps when more steric shielding is needed.
Search for 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile and you are likely to run into a handful of aliases: 6-(Trifluoromethyl)-2-aminobenzonitrile, 2-Amino-6-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile, and even its IUPAC alternative, 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzenecarbonitrile. Suppliers lean on these names in catalogs, and import/export papers sometimes check off each synonym to avoid confusion around customs or regulatory filings.
Handling this compound means working within a chemical fume hood, with nitrile gloves and lab coats as standard practice. The trifluoromethyl group helps keep volatility down, but grinding or heating the material without precautions will still release irritating dust or vapors. Storage demands a cool, dry environment, away from oxidizing agents. Suppliers and chemists both watch for local regulations governing aromatics with cyanide or amine groups – spill containment, proper disposal, and clear hazard labeling come with every shipment. Anyone scaling up from the bench needs to monitor for allergic reactions, particularly dermatitis or respiratory irritation.
Medicinal chemists appreciate the structure’s dual functionality when exploring new leads for kinase inhibitors or antiviral agents. Agrochemical companies check out such compounds as stepping stones to more complex herbicides or fungicides. The fluorinated backbone, coupled with the electron-rich amine, allows the molecule to slip into advanced material science pursuits, from OLED emitters through to light-stable colorants. Analytical labs use it as a reference when validating methods that monitor trace aromatics in food and water, because its chemical durability provides stable performance during GC-MS or LC-MS runs.
Pharmaceutical teams lean into this compound for its tunability. Attaching it to other heterocycles lets researchers chase after new scaffolds for anti-inflammatory treatments, or modulators of the central nervous system. With fluorinated aromatics earning top-shelf interest for their improved metabolic profiles, molecules like this one ride the wave of synthetic enthusiasm. Universities test programmable multi-step syntheses to reduce waste and hit higher yields; computer-driven retrosynthesis and automation platforms now make it faster to spin through derivatives that used to take weeks of guesswork.
Any hint of the word “nitrile” and safety groups start collecting data on acute and chronic toxicity. Traditional studies show this molecule carrying moderate acute oral toxicity, with LD50 values typical for small substituted aromatic nitriles. Extended inhalation risks raise flags because of both the trifluoromethyl and cyano components. Most researchers turn to closed systems to avoid inhalation or dermal exposures, especially given early studies showing respiratory effects in rodents after repeated dosing. Current safety frameworks draw on guidelines for similar nitriles, but toxicologists continue pushing for more definitive data on long-term carcinogenic potential.
Fluorinated aromatics have a bright future in both pharmaceuticals and materials science. Customization of this molecule, especially in the search for next-gen antibiotics and targeted cancer therapeutics, is on the rise as AI-led molecular design and green synthetic chemistry become more common. Complexities around handling and toxicity get balanced out by the rising demand for potent, reliable building blocks that can handle rugged synthetic conditions. If regulatory standards keep pace with industrial scale-up, 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile looks set to play an even larger supporting role in scientific discovery and industrial application.
2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile carries a distinct structure that chemists recognize in a moment. Its chemical formula is C8H5F3N2. If you line up each atom and tally up the atomic weights, the molecular weight lands at 186.14 g/mol. Some folks might see these numbers and move along, but for chemists, this information speaks volumes about how the compound will move, bond, and react in the world.
Chemistry in the real world isn’t just about numbers and symbols. It’s the story behind a substance that grabs attention. This compound, 2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile, pops up in the synthesis of drugs and advanced materials. I remember working through a synthesis that needed a tough, electron-rich aromatic ring. Trifluoromethyl groups bring powerful electron-withdrawing effects, changing how a compound interacts with other reactants, often guiding a reaction to a cleaner result or higher yield. Little things like this save budget and hours, especially in a competitive lab.
Adding an amino group at the 2-position — right next to the trifluoromethyl and nitrile — creates a molecule with a recipe for versatility. The amino group opens up more routes for modification. Medicinal chemists look for this flexibility when designing new drug candidates. You can’t always predict how tiny changes in structure transform a compound’s biological activity, but rings with nitriles and trifluoromethyl have sculpted some blockbusters. The antidepressant fluoxetine, for example, owes its activity to a trifluoromethyl group.
Working with benzonitriles and their cousins introduces hurdles that go way beyond mixing powders. Some nitrile-containing compounds give off strong, somewhat unpleasant odors. Others, especially those with fluorinated groups, demand solid ventilation thanks to potential toxicity. I’ve found that trying to purify these types of molecules by column chromatography gets complicated. The trifluoromethyl group not only changes how the molecule behaves in a reaction flask, but it also throws off the typical separation methods with its high electronegativity and unique solubility profile.
Labs need to keep an eye on safety with fluorinated compounds. Trifluoromethyl groups don’t break down easily in the environment. Waste handling gets expensive if you produce them at scale. That said, the rise of green chemistry has nudged the industry to adopt milder methods and recycle solvents, lowering the environmental footprint where possible. I learned to appreciate routine and regulations after seeing the costs and headaches from one improperly handled bottle of fluorinated material.
Researchers continue to search for new, safer synthetic routes. Catalysts powered by visible light, better recycling methods for solvents, and smarter waste disposal make the field safer and more efficient. I’ve seen teams brainstorm alternative reagents that cut the chance of dangerous byproducts. Chemistry isn’t static—each new synthesis tweaks a detail that can lead to safer, more effective applications down the road.
Working with specialty chemicals often feels straightforward on paper, but the moments that matter happen outside the lab notebook. Storing compounds like 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile rarely comes up in conversation until you spot a crystal crust along the jar’s rim or a faint yellowing at the bottom. Chemical stability always depends on the realities of your storage space and habits—sometimes more than on the label itself.
A chemical with a nitrile group and trifluoromethyl ring pulls in moisture from the air if left open. I once had a bottle tucked away on a lower shelf, and I found that only a few months of fluctuating humidity dragged its purity down. Keeping a tight seal, even for casual handling, avoids future headaches with inconsistent reactivity or strange TLC smears.
Actual best practice puts 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile in a tightly capped glass container, away from sunlight. Light sneaks in through amber bottles less than most folks expect, so a dark drawer or cabinet keeps the color and the chemistry stable. A room temperature of about 20-25°C hits the sweet spot for this compound—hotter environments accelerate side reactions, especially in older stock. Never park the bottle near heat sources or on a sunny windowsill.
It’s easy to underestimate how fast humidity degrades certain solids. Desiccant packs inside the container help a lot. More than once, I’ve cut open a new batch and tossed a silica gel packet right on top, sealing up before setting the bottle in its spot. This single habit keeps unwanted hydrolysis and amine decomposition at bay. If that chemical odor gets sharper or the powder starts to clump, it means that your environment isn’t as dry as you thought.
Manufacturers often quote a shelf life of about two years undisturbed under airtight, dark, and dry conditions. But the real world rarely works with guarantees—samples handled regularly degrade much sooner. Pulling out the compound for small-scale syntheses week after week tends to shorten shelf life. From experience, cracking open the jar several times a month knocks at least six months off expectation. Setting a clear “opened on” date on the bottle simplifies tracking and avoids accidental use of degraded material.
Changes in smell, stickiness, or color flag the end of reliable shelf life. Analytical techniques like NMR or melting point checks confirm purity, though many labs rely on visual inspection during routine work. If you notice a variance in yield or unexpected TLC spots, it’s time to consider the compound’s age and handling record before blaming your technique.
Keeping a log for storage conditions, opening dates, and desiccant replacement beats relying on memory. I’ve avoided more than one failed reaction just by cross-checking an old storage note against a suspicious batch. Setting up a rotating inventory, using older stock first, protects research quality and budget. Good habits—cool, dry, dark, and sealed storage, routine monitoring, and minimal unnecessary handling—make the difference between wasted months and solid research results.
Supplying fresh desiccant, storing in glass with PTFE-lined caps, and setting gentle reminders for chemical checks goes further than any label ever suggests. Small efforts add up: a little attention to storage conditions adds chemical resilience and saves teams from troubleshooting synthesis headaches later.
2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile isn’t one of those chemicals people bump into at the grocery store, but it plays a vital part behind the scenes in labs and manufacturing plants. This small molecule, with that wild trifluoromethyl tail, draws attention in the pharmaceutical world and among chemical research teams. Folks in these fields care just as much about the purity of this compound as bakers do about fresh yeast. Impurities toss a wrench in the process, leading to unreliable results, wasted money, and safety worries.
Walking through a supplier’s catalog or scrolling online, I spot different grades of 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile. Researchers often reach for ‘analytical grade’. They count on this stuff for accuracy. You want to trust your experiment’s outcome, not wonder if things are off because of stray chemicals. The pharmaceutical and biotech industries push for 'pharmaceutical grade' or 'GMP grade.' Safety and patient outcomes matter more than hitting a budget. On the other hand, some sectors, like dyes or basic materials development, can get by with a ‘technical grade.’ Less pure, cheaper, but still useful depending on the job.
I’ve learned the hard way that skipping on purity can send projects off course. In one project, my team grabbed what seemed like a bargain batch. The impurities skewed the data. Several runs wasted. Nobody likes repeating weeks of work because the starting material didn’t measure up. Impurities can show up as leftover starting materials, moisture, or just something that snuck in during manufacturing or packaging. Even low levels are enough to change the reaction or poison a catalyst.
The rules around purity aren’t just paperwork. Regulators want proof that a final drug is safe for use, and a tainted starting material will unravel that in a snap. For pre-clinical research, the bar isn’t quite as high, but getting into clinical trials or scale-up, every trace of impurity becomes a headache. That’s why labs sometimes run extra in-house purifications—and it eats up time and materials.
Trust in sourcing goes a long way. I see labs sticking to the same trustworthy suppliers, even paying a bit more. Knowing that a label matches reality is worth the premium, especially with difficult syntheses ahead. Some suppliers provide offers for small research packs, or chemical certificates that list what’s actually in the bottle, including purity by HPLC or NMR, and residual solvents. It takes the guessing out of it.
Having honest conversations with suppliers solves a lot of confusion, too. A quick call or email before ordering clears up doubts about grade and purity. It might slow things down for a day, but nothing compared to the trouble caused by using the wrong stuff. Strong storage habits matter as well—keeping chemicals dry and away from sunlight prevents slow breakdown or contamination. Even the purest compound goes downhill stored carelessly.
Ask any synthetic chemist about their toolbox, and you’ll find that certain molecules keep showing up in lab notebooks and patent filings. 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile isn’t a household name, but it’s quietly found in plenty of R&D stories, especially where innovation counts. The beauty of this molecule lies in its structure: an amino group, a tough-to-ignore trifluoromethyl, and a nitrile playing together on a benzene ring. This combination creates entry points for chemical reactions that spark whole new lines of compounds.
In pharma labs, researchers constantly chase new leads. Take the trifluoromethyl group—it’s a darling because it nudges molecules to interact differently in the body. Add nitrogen with the amino group, and you can steer reactions in a dozen clever ways. Scientists use this molecule to build blocks for drugs, especially those needing metabolic stability and unique bioactivity. Several kinase inhibitors, antiviral candidates, and enzyme-targeted therapies owe part of their existence to intermediate steps involving this compound. Real-world progress in cancer treatment or rare diseases usually comes from small tweaks in molecules just like this one, not from overnight breakthroughs.
Try getting a better yield from a cornfield without chemistry—results flatline. Agriscience teams rely on the fluorinated benzonitrile backbone for designing pesticides and herbicides that work at lower doses. The trifluoromethyl group makes molecules last longer in challenging outdoor conditions, while the nitrile shape lends itself to further modifications. Industry reports show that many modern crop-protection compounds, including selective herbicides and protectants, count this molecule as a starting point or key intermediate, helping farmers defend crops without ramping up chemical load.
It’s not just health or food. Material engineers wanting plastics or coatings that shrug off harsh environments often seek fluorinated aromatics. This compound offers the right mix for making specialty polymers or resins. Its electron-withdrawing groups and reactivity open doors to materials with better chemical resistance or insulation properties, which show up in everything from electronics to aerospace designs.
Anyone who has worked with fluorinated intermediates knows the costs add up. They demand careful handling—waste streams from these syntheses often push industrial chemists to rethink how to recover solvents or safely process byproducts. Eco-conscious manufacturing is no longer optional. Green chemists now look for catalytic routes or continuous flow technologies to tame emissions and cut down on energy use. Projects that use bio-based solvents or try to recycle expensive fluorinated building blocks show promise, but these options need wider adoption before prices come down.
Decades spent around research labs drive home a clear lesson: New molecules like 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile don’t just appear in the news, they arrive on the heels of stubborn curiosity. Whether for healing, feeding, or building, chemists lean on compounds with just the right combination of reactivity and resilience. Anyone interested in chemistry’s future would do well to keep an eye out for where this small-but-mighty molecule pops up next—because the practical answers often hide in the fine print of big discoveries.
People in research labs get used to strong-smelling solvents, wild chemical names, and brightly-colored powders in glass bottles. But nothing excuses overlooking the small stuff in a chemical’s safety data. 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile sounds niche, maybe something for experimenters or specialty drug discovery. But handling compounds with both an amino group and a trifluoromethyl group asks for more thought than a routine pipetting session.
Even with the boring colorless look, this molecule brings some classic organic chemistry hazards to the bench. The nitrile on the ring translates to the possibility of releasing hydrogen cyanide under certain conditions—fire or strong acid, for example. That’s not some far-off theoretical risk. In a fire, or if you spill acid over a benchtop, this compound could give off toxic vapors in minutes.
Skin exposure is also too easy to shrug off. Lots of folks get lazy about gloves for small-scale prep, but aromatic amines often irritate the skin and can sneak through thin gloves. Besides redness and itching, repeated exposure builds up over time and starts affecting health beyond just a little rash. Trifluoromethyl groups might not sound as nasty, but their inclusion tends to bump up bioaccumulation and increase worry for unforeseen effects.
Looking like chalky dust, a lot of these small aromatic chemicals tend to get everywhere if you’re not careful handling the bottle. That dust gets on your fingers, maybe on a keyboard, or worse—onto your sandwich at lunch if you forget to wash up. These are direct paths for hazardous chemicals to move from bottle to bloodstream. Proper weighing inside a fume hood helps, and sealing bottles right after use becomes a no-brainer with experience.
Lab waste often gets ignored until a drum fills up or inspectors stop by, but flushing this sort of stuff down a drain isn’t responsible. These compounds resist breakdown in wastewater treatment, and trifluoromethyl rings just don’t go away easily in the environment. A pile-up of these fluorinated nitriles can start showing up in local water or even soil over time. That ends up affecting much more than the person who made the first spill.
Getting safety right means using sturdy gloves, goggles, and real ventilation. Fume hoods don’t just look good for show—they keep your lungs clear when weighing powders. Installing splash shields might seem over-the-top, but with reactive rings and nitrogen groups so close together, a little extra plastic saves a lot of skin in the long run. Training for new folks should mention cyanide potential and stress the point about chemical waste—don’t just treat it like any old organic solvent.
Emergency procedures need to be clear and practiced, especially if heating or strong acids come into play. Immediate washing might not reverse effects from cyanide toxicity, so having proper antidote kits and fast communication lines with local poison control groups makes a huge difference.
At the end of the day, people get casual around familiar chemicals. 2-Amino-6-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzonitrile isn’t mainstream, but every researcher gets the same importance in staying alert. Paying attention to hazards turns an intimidating name into a manageable routine—safe for everyone at the bench, safe for the community outside.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile |
| Other names |
2-Amino-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzenecarbonitrile 6-(Trifluoromethyl)-2-aminobenzonitrile 6-(Trifluoromethyl)-o-aminobenzonitrile 2-Amino-6-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile |
| Pronunciation | /tuː-əˈmiːnoʊ-sɪks-trʌɪˌfluːrəˈmɛθəl-benˈzoʊ-nɪˌtraɪl/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 65474-35-9 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `C1=CC=C(C(=C1N)C#N)C(F)(F)F` |
| Beilstein Reference | 1209267 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:150080 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL2432060 |
| ChemSpider | 21386720 |
| DrugBank | DB08398 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 01-0000030668-62-0000 |
| EC Number | NA |
| Gmelin Reference | 106227 |
| KEGG | C192029 |
| MeSH | D018373 |
| PubChem CID | 137350 |
| RTECS number | GV8575000 |
| UNII | 6GH74057QQ |
| UN number | Not regulated |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | 0N6XAF232Y |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C8H5F3N2 |
| Molar mass | 170.13 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to light yellow solid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.36 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble in water |
| log P | 1.7 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0163 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | pKa = 2.79 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 5.06 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -33.2 × 10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.5600 |
| Dipole moment | 3.85 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 321.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -104.6 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Harmful if swallowed, causes skin and serious eye irritation, may cause respiratory irritation |
| GHS labelling | GHS02,GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302, H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-1-0-☣ |
| Flash point | Flash point: 113.5 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 540°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 Oral Rat 1300mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 1595 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) |
| NIOSH | NA Duplicate. |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not Established |
| REL (Recommended) | 10 mg |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
2-Amino-6-chlorobenzonitrile 2-Amino-6-methylbenzonitrile 2-Amino-6-fluorobenzonitrile 2-Amino-6-bromobenzonitrile 2-Amino-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile |
