Beryllium cyanide

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Beryllium cyanide
Names
Other names
  • Beryllium dicyanide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/2CN.Be/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2
  • [Be+2].[C-]#N.[C-]#N
Properties
Be(CN)2
Molar mass 61.05 g/mol
Appearance Colorless solid[1][2]
Density 1.34 g/cm3[2]
Melting point 700 °C (1,292 °F; 973 K)[1] (decomposes)
Hydrolysis[1]
Structure[2]
cubic
Pn3m
a = 5.339 Å
151.2 Å3
tetrahedral (beryllium)
Related compounds
Other cations
 Magnesium cyanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Beryllium cyanide is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Be(CN)2. It is a toxic white solid which hydrolyses in water. It was first prepared in 1963 by the addition of dimethylberyllium to a solution of hydrogen cyanide in benzene:[1]

(CH3)2Be + 2 HCN → Be(CN)2 + 2 CH4

A safer modern synthesis has been developed, reacting trimethylsilyl cyanide and beryllium chloride in dibutyl ether. Performing this reaction in liquid ammonia gives the ammoniate, Be(NH3)4(CN)2.[2][3]

Beryllium cyanide reacts with pyridine to form Be(CN)2(py)2.[4]

Structure

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Beryllium cyanide adopts a cubic crystal structure, with tetrahedrally coordinated beryllium by four cyanide anions. The tetrahedra are linked at their vertices.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Coates, G. E.; Mukherjee, R. N. (1963). "35. Dimethylaluminium cyanide and its gallium, indium, and thallium analogues; beryllium and methylberyllium cyanide". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed): 229–233. doi:10.1039/JR9630000229. ISSN 0368-1769.
  2. ^ a b c d e Darrick Williams; Brett Pleune; Kurt Leinenweber; J. Kouvetakis (2001). "Synthesis and Structural Properties of the Binary Framework C–N Compounds of Be, Mg, Al, and Tl". Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 159 (1): 244–250. Bibcode:2001JSSCh.159..244W. doi:10.1006/jssc.2001.9192.
  3. ^ Matthias Müllera; Magnus R. Buchner (2019). "Preparation and crystal structures of the beryllium ammines [Be(NH3)4]X2 (X = Br, I, CN, SCN, N3) and Be(NH3)2X'2 (X' = Cl, Br, I)". Chemical Communications. 55 (91): 13649–13652. doi:10.1039/C9CC07712J. PMID 31633138.
  4. ^ A. V. G. Chizmeshya; C. J. Ritter; T. L. Groy; J. B. Tice; J. Kouvetakis (2007). "Synthesis of Molecular Adducts of Beryllium, Boron, and Gallium Cyanides: Theoretical and Experimental Correlations between Solid-State and Molecular Analogues". Chemistry of Materials. 19 (24): 5890–5901. doi:10.1021/cm071275h.