2-Furonitrile


2-Furonitrile is a colorless derivative of furan possessing a nitrile group.

Synthesis

Industrial synthesis is based on the vapor phase ammoxidation of furfural with ammonia over bismuth molybdate catalyst at 440-480 °C.
Numerous laboratory methods also exist; for the instance oxidative dehydration of furfural with ammonia salts using hypervalent iodine reagents or n-bromosuccinimide. From furfural aldoxime and furoic acid amide.

Applications

2-Furonitrile currently has no major applications but it is used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis. It has been suggested as a potential sweetening agent, as it has about thirty times the sweetening power of sucrose.