2-Fluorobenzonitrile: A Deep-Dive into Its Role and Importance
Historical Development
Chemicals with subtle structural differences often leave their mark in research and industry, and 2-fluorobenzonitrile stands out as a good example. Since the mid-20th century, the growth in both the fluorine and nitrile segments of organic chemistry set the stage for new discoveries. Early diary entries in synthetic methods touched on the challenge of introducing both a cyano and a fluoro group onto the benzene ring, especially in positions that bring new reactivity. As research teams worldwide focused on fine-tuning synthetic routes for aromatic nitriles, both academic and industrial chemists noticed unique reactivity and found use cases for such small modifications. It didn't take long before 2-fluorobenzonitrile found its way into scientific journals across Europe, the US, and Asia, each detailing experiments on its properties and applications, especially as pharma and agrochemical companies raced to introduce innovation into their product lines.
Product Overview
2-Fluorobenzonitrile presents itself as a clear, pale liquid with a subtle, distinctive odor. This compound falls into an interesting category—aromatic nitriles carrying a single fluorine atom at the ortho position. The value often comes not from large volumes but from the impact surfacing in selective synthesis. Laboratories and chemical suppliers cater mostly to researchers and small-scale industries, as the compound plays a vital role as both a precursor and an intermediate in more advanced syntheses.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Handling 2-fluorobenzonitrile gives a practical lesson in how a fluorine atom can change the game. Its typical boiling point rests around 190–192°C, with a density hovering just beneath water, near 1.11 g/cm³. The presence of the electron-withdrawing nitrile group, together with the highly electronegative fluorine, produces a molecule that resists a lot of common side-reactions. This makes it less reactive toward certain nucleophiles, which extends shelf life but calls for clever chemistry. The molecule runs low in solubility in water but dissolves neatly in organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, and dichloromethane.
Technical Specifications & Labeling
Chemists need transparency and trust in their reagents, which is why reputable suppliers publish detailed certificates of analysis for every batch. 2-fluorobenzonitrile usually comes with purity levels above 98%, with trace impurities, moisture, and elemental content measured and disclosed. Standard packaging involves high-density polyethylene or amber glass, clearly labeled with the batch number, production date, CAS number (394-47-8), molecular formula (C7H4FN), and safety symbols. Documentation trails prove invaluable not just for quality control, but for later troubleshooting and regulatory compliance.
Preparation Method
The route to 2-fluorobenzonitrile challenges chemists to balance efficiency, cost, and safety. One mainstream approach involves the direct fluorination of benzonitrile with selective fluorinating agents, but this tends to over-fluorinate unless strictly controlled. More refined methods start from o-fluorotoluene, followed by oxidation and dehydration—all steps requiring solid knowledge of handling toxic and sometimes volatile reagents. Researchers in both academia and companies continue to look for greener and less hazardous alternatives, as classic routes produce nasty byproducts and call for waste management plans.
Chemical Reactions & Modifications
The charm of 2-fluorobenzonitrile lies in the doors it opens. The electron-deficient nature of the aromatic ring allows for diverse modifications, such as nucleophilic aromatic substitution or transition-metal catalyzed coupling reactions, which have found their way into core synthetic strategies across pharmaceutical and materials science. The nitrile group, positioned ortho to fluorine, can undergo hydrolysis to carboxylic acids or be transformed through reduction to primary amines. The fluoro substituent encourages these transformations through both electronic and spatial influence, giving chemists leeway to build much larger, more complex molecules—a crucial skill in drug discovery and fine chemical production.
Synonyms & Product Names
In practice, researchers bump into a variety of names for 2-fluorobenzonitrile. You may see it listed as o-fluorobenzonitrile, 2-cyanofluorobenzene, or even 2-fluoro-1-benzonitrile, especially in older journals. Each label refers to the same aromatic core, where the fluorine and cyanide groups sit ortho to each other on the benzene ring.
Safety & Operational Standards
Prioritizing safety in the lab means knowing more than just basics. 2-fluorobenzonitrile should never be handled outside a fume hood. Even small spills give off an acrid smell due to the volatile nature of the compound, signaling both its chemical reactivity and toxicity. Personal protective gear—gloves, goggles, and lab coats—go beyond mere formality. Storage involves segregating the compound from acids and bases to avoid unwanted reactions. Waste disposal must be compliant with regional and national hazardous materials regulations, using labeled, sealed containers destined for incineration or controlled destruction.
Application Area
Industries hunting for new drug candidates and crop protection agents keep 2-fluorobenzonitrile high on their list. It acts as both an end itself and a versatile intermediate for more nuanced syntheses. In medicinal chemistry, researchers use it to create enzyme inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents, and unique building blocks for advanced molecular scaffolding. In materials science, companies explore fluorinated aromatic compounds for their thermal stability and electrical insulating behavior. Even companies outside the obvious circles pay attention: chemical sensors, dyes, and sometimes rare flavor/fragrance prototypes benefit from its robust structure and nuanced reactivity.
Research & Development
Universities and R&D departments in global pharma and agrochemical companies keep pushing the limits. New methods for selective fluorination and more sustainable approaches remain hot topics. The molecule also finds itself as a tracer or label in NMR and mass spectrometry, due to both its distinct F atom and its well-understood fragmentation pattern. Major funding cycles often highlight the search for more environmentally friendly ways to synthesize, functionalize, or dispose of this compound and its relatives, since traditional routes rely heavily on hazardous reagents and generate waste that faces tightening disposal regulations.
Toxicity Research
A deep look at the literature reveals mixed views on the toxicity of 2-fluorobenzonitrile. Acute exposure, particularly via inhalation or skin contact, raises alarms—irritating skin, mucous membranes, and eyes, while potentially causing systemic effects if absorbed. Animal studies point to a moderate level of toxicity, though less severe than some other nitrile compounds. Chronic exposure remains largely under-studied, pushing regulators and workplace safety professionals to err on the side of caution. Companies have learned that proper medical monitoring and advanced air handling protect both workers and the environment, though ongoing surveillance for new data remains essential.
Future Prospects
Innovation in synthetic chemistry leans on the kind of reactivity and selectivity that 2-fluorobenzonitrile offers. As demand rises for specialty pharmaceuticals and advanced materials, the need for such fine-tuned building blocks only stands to grow. Teams working on green chemistry expand options for preparation, aiming to ditch harsh reagents and cut down on waste. Machine learning and automation help predict new reaction pathways and open up yet-undiscovered applications for this and related compounds. The journey of 2-fluorobenzonitrile starts with careful research but promises a lasting role, especially in fields pushing chemistry toward safer processes, high-performance materials, and novel therapeutics.
Getting to the Root: What’s 2-Fluorobenzonitrile?
Ask any chemist who’s spent time wandering through stacks of aromatic compounds, and the name 2-Fluorobenzonitrile will likely ring a bell. This chemical stands out in the lab for its practical utility. Structurally, it takes the familiar ring of benzene, swaps out one hydrogen for a fluorine atom, and sticks a nitrile group (–CN) onto the adjacent carbon. Its formula: C7H4FN.
Why the Formula Matters
Walking through a research lab early in my career, seeing rows of glass bottles, a formula like C7H4FN separated useful reagents from background noise. Formulas aren’t just shorthand; they map the landscape for reactions, toxicity, and even the price tag on a reagent order form. For 2-Fluorobenzonitrile, each atom means something. The fluorine atom adds electronegativity and stability, sometimes sending a molecule down an entirely unexpected synthetic path. The nitrile holds out a handle for making life-saving drugs or specialty materials. A single formula can mean the difference between a successful reaction and an expensive cleanup.
From Synthesis to Real-World Uses
Not every chemist chooses to work with fluorinated arenes, but their role can’t be overlooked. Compounds like 2-Fluorobenzonitrile pop up in medicine discovery. Thanks to its reactivity, it finds its way into pharmaceuticals—fluorine atoms often help tweak biological activity. One drug molecule I stumbled across in an organic chemistry seminar used a similar fluorinated backbone to boost stability in blood plasma. Beyond drugs, the chemical also crops up in materials science, supporting the creation of polymers with unique traits, or even in the dye industry. Researchers seeking that extra performance often look to a formula with clever substitutions, and 2-Fluorobenzonitrile provides exactly that.
Weighing Safety and Environmental Impact
Knowing the structure and the formula also flags safety notes in any lab. Fluorinated nitriles aren’t exactly household compounds—proper ventilation and gloves matter. High volatility or unusual byproduct profiles could threaten not only researchers but also the environment. In my own work, one misstep in handling a nitrile sent alarms blaring and forced an immediate evacuation. Safety data on each ingredient saves not just time, but lives. It’s good practice to always update and consult latest guidelines from regulatory agencies and trusted chemical safety platforms.
Pathways Forward: Safer, Smarter Chemistry
Echoing countless late-night lab discussions, the future sits with greener synthesis. There’s a major push to develop reactions for compounds like 2-Fluorobenzonitrile using less hazardous solvents, catalyst systems with lower waste, and reduced energy costs. Students and scientists everywhere need a clear understanding of each formula—like C7H4FN—to drive discovery with smarter decisions. Sharing data and practical knowledge can streamline risk management, save money, and keep everyone safer. In the end, chemistry moves forward most when every detail—down to a single fluorine substitution—is recognized and respected.
What Makes 2-Fluorobenzonitrile Significant?
Working in the field of chemical research, I’ve seen how a single compound can find its way into countless projects. 2-Fluorobenzonitrile holds a crucial spot in modern organic chemistry. This molecule, a benzonitrile ring with a fluorine atom at the “2” position, sets the stage for a huge range of synthetic transformations. Chemists rely on it as a building block, not because it’s flashy, but because it delivers results where other chemicals fall short. I’ve witnessed it speed up laboratory syntheses or unlock routes to products that seemed tough to reach.
Medicinal Chemistry: From Lab Benches to Pharmacies
Drug discovery heavily leans on access to intermediates like 2-Fluorobenzonitrile. Here’s why: The fluorine atom often tweaks the biological activity of a drug candidate, altering how it interacts with enzymes or persists in the body. Major pharmaceutical firms synthesize anti-inflammatory agents, anti-cancer molecules, and research compounds using this core. The difference that one atom can make in reducing side effects or boosting potency seems almost magical, but it's born from painstaking structure-activity studies. In projects I’ve been part of, swapping in a single fluorine atom sometimes rescued a promising medicine from poor metabolic stability.
Agrochemicals and Protecting Crops
Farmers rely on pesticides and herbicides grounded in robust and selective chemistry. For this, 2-Fluorobenzonitrile provides a skeleton for creating molecules that disrupt pests’ metabolisms. A fluorinated ring handles tough environmental conditions and resists breakdown by sunlight, which means crops stay protected for longer. Chemical suppliers see increased demand as global agriculture looks for safer, more effective synthetic tools.
Materials Science and Advanced Polymers
Modern electronics—from smartphones to solar panels—often rely on specialty polymers made from fluorinated aromatic rings. The synthesis of high-performance plastics or resins sometimes starts with 2-Fluorobenzonitrile as a key monomer. Working with materials scientists, I’ve seen how small differences in monomer structure lead to big leaps in conductivity or heat resistance. By introducing nitrile and fluorine groups, manufacturers tune materials for niche jobs, like insulating a microchip or creating a durable protective film.
Challenges and Sustainable Solutions
Handling fluorinated compounds comes with unique hurdles. High demand can increase costs, and poor waste treatment risks environmental harm, especially as fluorinated byproducts tend to persist. In my experience, labs and factories address these issues by reusing solvent, upgrading purification steps, and cutting hazardous emissions. Tight regulations push manufacturers to streamline protocols, prioritize worker safety, and use greener reagents when possible. Some researchers now chase routes using bio-based or recyclable feedstocks, hoping to balance chemistry and sustainability.
Looking Forward: More Than Just a Niche Chemical
As life sciences, agriculture, and technology sectors chase new challenges, versatile chemicals like 2-Fluorobenzonitrile remain in high demand. The next generations of medicines, crop solutions, and smart materials may depend on this quiet workhorse. Paying close attention to safety, efficiency, and green chemistry opens doors to innovation without sacrificing the environment. While the general public may never hear its name, science’s progress owes a debt to reliable building blocks like this one.
Why a CAS Number Matters in the Real World
Ask anyone working with chemicals about the headaches caused by misidentifying compounds. The CAS number gives every chemical a unique fingerprint in a long international catalog. For 2-Fluorobenzonitrile, this crucial identifier is 394-47-8. Getting a label wrong can mean wasted time or, even worse, dangerous cross-contamination. No one wants to realize a mistake only after something’s gone off track in the lab.
What 2-Fluorobenzonitrile Does Day In, Day Out
This compound pulls its weight across different fields: pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Picture a research chemist sorting through dozens of aromatic nitriles. The smallest mix-up in a label can derail months of effort. Using the CAS number cuts through confusion. Instead of guessing at synonyms or trade names, everyone checks the same reference code and lands on the right bottle. A misplaced hyphen or digit might look harmless but in chemical catalogs, those little slips set off expensive problems.
Lessons From the Lab Bench
Years ago, a colleague of mine mixed up two similar-sounding chemicals. The bottles sat next to each other on a shelf, both clear liquids, both used in organic synthesis. Using only names, it’s all too easy to grab the wrong one. Now every label in our inventory shows both the name and the CAS number. No more doubts, no more wasted batches.
Top chemical suppliers and academic journals insist on including CAS numbers. You’ll find this policy everywhere from Sigma-Aldrich to open-access chemistry research. It’s not just an industry preference—it’s best practice. One quick search using 394-47-8 brings up all the relevant safety data sheets, storage tips, and legal restrictions tied to 2-Fluorobenzonitrile. With regulations tightening worldwide, fine-tuning compliance processes cuts risk and saves money.
Beyond Just a Number: Supporting E-E-A-T in Chemistry
Google’s E-E-A-T framework covers Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Getting a fact as basic as the CAS number right speaks to authority and trustworthiness. Readers count on correct information—especially in technical fields where a tiny mistake has real consequences. As someone who’s handled tricky syntheses, I learned the hard way that reliable references matter more than flowery explanations. Trust gets built year by year when a supplier or resource keeps details straight.
Fixing the Problem—Accuracy Every Step of the Way
Everyone in the chemical world can make life easier by adopting reference standards like CAS numbers. Digital inventory systems have streamlined the process, but human habits lag behind. It helps to double-check every product entry, train new staff to recognize CAS numbers, and avoid informal naming shortcuts. Leaning on trusted databases—like PubChem or ChemSpider—keeps errors out of the supply chain. From procurement to publication, accurate referencing saves hassle for the next person down the line.
Getting details right is less about rigid rules, more about building habits over time. Whether you’re mixing reagents in a research lab or tracking shipments at a warehouse, the right number on the bottle changes everything.
Understanding the Risks
A bottle marked 2-Fluorobenzonitrile on a lab bench calls for respectful caution. I’ve spent plenty of time working with chemicals where one careless spill or a missed protocol quickly turns a routine task into an emergency. This particular compound brings its own list of hazards: it gives off harmful vapors, can irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory system, and ranks among the group of nitriles known for their toxicity. The faint, slightly bitter almond smell reminds experienced chemists to focus because improper handling means unnecessary health risks.
Personal Protective Equipment Matters
Grabbing proper protective gear should never be an afterthought. Whenever I’ve handled aromatic nitriles like this, gloves rated for chemical resistance—nitrile or neoprene—always came first. Splash goggles stay on, not over the forehead. A good lab coat isn’t just for show, either. Some users go with thicker aprons if they anticipate splashing, especially in larger syntheses.
Lab ventilation sits as the backbone of safe work. Fume hoods remove vapors that could cause dizziness or worse. In small undergraduate labs, I’ve seen people tempted to pipette or weigh out solvents on open benches. The first headache or whiff of sharp odor should be the only warning anyone needs.
Storage Habits Make a Difference
Even after years spent around chemicals, storage seems dull—until a forgotten, leaky bottle shows up on a cluttered shelf. 2-Fluorobenzonitrile stays safest in tightly sealed amber containers. Keep it away from any source of heat or flames since its vapors catch fire more easily than you might think. Segregating it from oxidizers or nitric acid avoids disastrous reactions. Proper labeling adds peace of mind, especially if someone else needs to work in the same space.
Dealing with Spills and Waste
Spills always bring a sense of urgency. Paper towels and wishful thinking won’t cut it. Absorbent pads, proper chemical spill kits, and a quick exit for non-essential workers keep accidents from escalating. For small spots, scoop up the mess with tongs and place it into a labeled waste container; for anything sizable, clear the area and ask for help. Most labs insist on designated disposal containers for nitrile compounds—not down the drain—to keep toxins from reaching water systems.
First Aid and Emergency Response
I've seen panic unfold when someone splashed a nitrile near their eyes. Speed always helps. Rinsing with eye wash or flushing skin with running water makes a difference. Anyone feeling lightheaded after inhaling vapors needs to move outside right away. Ingesting or heavy exposure? That’s a hospital trip, and bringing the original container speeds up treatment. Manuals sound tedious, but having emergency contact numbers taped to the wall beats fumbling online in a crisis.
Why the Precautions Matter
Staying vigilant comes from knowing accidents at the bench ripple outwards. Acute poisoning may seem rare, but minor headaches, nosebleeds, or persistent coughing threaten anyone who ignores safe habits. Beginners benefit by treating each new chemical as dangerous until proven otherwise. Veteran researchers know shortcuts only pay off until luck runs out.
Chemistry moves forward because people engage with risk directly—and use knowledge to manage it. Taking each step seriously around 2-Fluorobenzonitrile ensures safety isn’t an afterthought but a learned instinct. That’s a lesson every lab worker earns by experience—sometimes painfully.
Getting to the Heart of the Molecule
2-Fluorobenzonitrile, with a chemical formula of C7H4FN, often sparks curiosity among researchers and students. The molecular weight stands at 121.11 grams per mole—a seemingly simple figure, but it carries weight in more ways than just numbers on a scale. In the trenches of chemical synthesis, this value sets the ground rules for precise measurements, yields, and safety calculations.
Molecular Weight Drives All Calculations
Every chemist has stared down at their bench, trying to figure out just how much of a compound to weigh out. Accuracy makes or breaks an experiment. Start off with the wrong mass, and the reaction goes sideways—or worse, those clean NMR spectra dreams fade fast. My own days in the student lab involved triple-checking every conversion, calculator in hand, to avoid a week’s worth of wasted effort.
With 2-Fluorobenzonitrile, 121.11 g/mol tells you exactly how much carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and fluorine come together in a single molecule. That precision matters most each time someone calculates a reagent’s stoichiometry. In drug discovery or material science, margins for error shrink. Even a one-percent miscalculation on a 100-gram scale leads to wasted resources—and the costs mount quickly. Chemical manufacturers have felt that sting. Poor calculations bleed through budgets, cause delays, and sometimes trigger safety protocols when batches go off-spec.
Supporting Claims with Facts
2-Fluorobenzonitrile finds itself in pharmaceuticals, dyes, and agrochemicals. Its molecular weight underpins every stage from lab research to industrial production. Without the correct figure, quality control falls apart. Regulators require full documentation of molecular weights for shipping, storage, and environmental reporting. The FDA and ECHA use such figures to approve everything from lab protocols to large-scale pharmaceuticals.
Published sources, including PubChem and ChemSpider, independently confirm the 121.11 g/mol figure. Companies trading these chemicals—Sigma-Aldrich, Fisher Scientific, and others—still rely on the same foundational data. In my own work with a pharmaceutical startup, a meticulous logbook entry listing an incorrect molecular weight caused a week-long review process. Errors like that ripple through production lines, and they often come from simple copy-paste mistakes or calibrating against outdated data.
Seeking Solutions: Building Trust Through Reliable Data
With so much riding on a single number, chemists need reliable reference sources. That’s where digital libraries and cloud-based LIMS play a role. Electronic records, double-checked against trusted sources, cut down on clerical mistakes. Open-access databases—curated by specialists—bring a sense of transparency. I’ve found peer review especially helpful. A second set of eyes on each new chemical sheet saved my teams from the odd embarrassing slip.
Some organizations invest in automated weighing and batch control, linked to barcode scanning and digital lookup tables. That brings the molecular weight off the dusty bookshelf and straight into every step of production. The push for greater transparency looks set to strengthen trust right back through the supply chain.
Facing the Future Head-On
With chemistry moving faster than ever, small details like molecular weight shape everything from lab safety to product success. For 2-Fluorobenzonitrile and its cousins, correct numbers lay the foundation for reproducibility and reliability.
