Glycolonitrile

Synthesis and reactions

Glycolonitrile is produced by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide at near-neutral pH, but with small amounts of catalytic base. Glycolonitrile polymerizes under alkaline conditions above pH 7.0. As the product of polymerization is an amine with a basic character, the reaction is self-catalysed, gaining in speed with ongoing conversion.

Glycolonitrile can react with ammonia to give aminoacetonitrile, which can be hydrolysed to give glycine:

HOCH₂CN + NH₃ → H₂NCH₂CN + H₂O

H₂NCH₂CN + 2 H₂O → H₂NCH₂CO₂H + NH₃

The industrially important chelating agent EDTA is prepared from glycolonitrile and ethylenediamine followed by hydrolysis of the resulting tetranitrile. Nitrilotriacetic acid is prepared similarly.