Maleonitrile is an organic compound with the formula . It is a simple unsaturated dinitrile, an isomer of fumaronitrile, which has trans cyanide groups.
Preparation and reactions The compound was originally prepared by dehydration of maleamide (a derivative of maleic acid) using phosphorus pentoxide.
Maleonitrile is an electrophilic alkene and a good dienophile. It participates in metal-catalyzed alkene metathesis reactions.
Interstellar occurrence Maleonitrile was detected from interstellar cloud TMC-1 by its spectral emissions.
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