Cyanate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The cyanate ion is an anion consisting of one oxygen atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom (OCN−), in that order, and possesses 1 unit of negative charge, borne mainly by the nitrogen atom. In organic compounds the cyanate group is a functional group.
The structure of cyanate is resonant between these two structures:
- O− − C ≡ N and O = C = N−
The cyanate ion is isoelectronic with carbon dioxide, and so shares its linear shape.
The cyanate ion is an ambident nucleophile in nucleophilic substitution because it can react to form an alkyl cyanate R-OCN (exception) or an alkyl isocyanate R-NCO (rule). Aryl cyanates (C6H5OCN) can be formed by a reaction of phenol with cyanogen chloride (ClCN) in the presence of a base.
Cyanates are salts of cyanic acid for example potassium cyanate (KNCO).
The 'cyanate ion is relatively non-toxic in comparison to cyanides. Use of this fact is made in cyanide decontamination processes where a permanganate oxidation converts toxic cyanide to cyanate.
The fulminate ion has the same formula but different structure.
|
|
|---|
| Chemical class: Alcohol • Aldehyde • Alkane • Alkene • Alkyne • Amide • Amine • Azo compound • Benzene derivative • Carboxylic acid • Cyanate • Ester • Ether • Haloalkane • Imine • Isocyanide • Isocyanate • Ketone • Nitrile • Nitro compound • Nitroso compound • Peroxide • Phosphoric acid • Pyridine derivative • Sulfone • Sulfonic acid • Sulfoxide • Thioether • Thiol • Toluene derivative |
 |
This inorganic compound-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
