Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2009-06-22 16:08:29 UTC
Update Date2026-04-03 15:01:47 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM001467
Identification
Common NameTetracyanoquinodimethane
ClassSmall Molecule
DescriptionTetracyanoquinodimethane is an organic compound of cyanide. It is an electron-acceptor that is used to prepare charge transfer salts, which are of interest in the area of molecular electronics. (3)
Contaminant Sources
  • T3DB toxins
Contaminant Type
  • Cyanide Compound
  • Industrial/Workplace Toxin
  • Nitrile
  • Organic Compound
  • Synthetic Compound
Chemical Structure
Thumb
Synonyms
ValueSource
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-diylidene-alpha,alpha'-dimalononitrileChEBI
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-diylidenedimalononitrileChEBI
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-delta1,alpha:4,alpha'-dimalononitrileChEBI
7,7',8,8'-TetracyanoquinodimethaneChEBI
7,7,8,8-Tetracyano-1,4-quinodimethanChEBI
7,7,8,8-Tetracyano-p-quinodimethaneChEBI
TCNQChEBI
Tetracyano-p-quinodimethaneChEBI
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-diylidene-a,alpha'-dimalononitrileGenerator
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-diylidene-α,alpha'-dimalononitrileGenerator
2,5-Cyclohexadiene-δ1,alpha:4,alpha'-dimalononitrileGenerator
TetracyanoquinonedimethaneHMDB
7,7,8,8-TetracyanoquinodimethaneChEBI
Chemical FormulaC12H4N4
Average Molecular Mass204.187 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass204.044 g/mol
CAS Registry Number1518-16-7
IUPAC Name2-[4-(dicyanomethylidene)cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene]propanedinitrile
Traditional Nametetracyanoquinodimethane
SMILESN#CC(C#N)=C1C=CC(C=C1)=C(C#N)C#N
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/C12H4N4/c13-5-11(6-14)9-1-2-10(4-3-9)12(7-15)8-16/h1-4H
InChI KeyPCCVSPMFGIFTHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of organic compounds known as p-quinodimethanes. P-quinodimethanes are compounds containing a benzene ring conjugated to two methylidene groups at carbon atoms 1 and 4, respectively..
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassHydrocarbon derivatives
ClassQuinodimethanes
Sub ClassP-quinodimethanes
Direct ParentP-quinodimethanes
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • P-quinodimethane
  • Benzenoid
  • Monocyclic benzene moiety
  • Nitrile
  • Carbonitrile
  • Organic nitrogen compound
  • Organopnictogen compound
  • Organonitrogen compound
  • Aromatic homomonocyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAromatic homomonocyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
AppearanceRed crystals.
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting Point287-89°C
Boiling PointNot Available
SolubilityNot Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
Water Solubility0.12 g/LALOGPS
logP1.47ALOGPS
logP0.75ChemAxon
logS-3.2ALOGPS
Physiological Charge0ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count4ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count0ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area95.16 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count0ChemAxon
Refractivity61.19 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability19.97 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings1ChemAxon
Bioavailability1ChemAxon
Rule of FiveYesChemAxon
Ghose FilterYesChemAxon
Veber's RuleNoChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash KeyView
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-0udi-0390000000-3c5968c3b8d61a19669fSpectrum
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-0a4i-0090000000-d1a7ac86197e87a18a12Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-0a4i-0090000000-da4a5d8ebdac259ada42Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-056r-1940000000-d82caefb72aeeaee7222Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-0udi-0090000000-b2befff7592e4d166614Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-0udi-0090000000-b2befff7592e4d166614Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-0udi-0190000000-681a76f66635b8c25e02Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-0a4i-0090000000-950b827a68a0e492342cSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-056r-0950000000-b5164a2ddc47c5d43152Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-004i-1900000000-a176dc0da2b772d4d539Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-0udi-0090000000-b5767830d0fde81b7d26Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-0udi-0090000000-b5767830d0fde81b7d26Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-0fb9-0970000000-0f6f41edbd7c2eb917eeSpectrum
MSMass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)splash10-0udi-6790000000-ee0c6e834f83ef24df03Spectrum
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureOral (1) ; inhalation (1) ; dermal (1)
Mechanism of ToxicityOrganic nitriles decompose into cyanide ions both in vivo and in vitro. Consequently the primary mechanism of toxicity for organic nitriles is their production of toxic cyanide ions or hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide is an inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase in the fourth complex of the electron transport chain (found in the membrane of the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells). It complexes with the ferric iron atom in this enzyme. The binding of cyanide to this cytochrome prevents transport of electrons from cytochrome c oxidase to oxygen. As a result, the electron transport chain is disrupted and the cell can no longer aerobically produce ATP for energy. Tissues that mainly depend on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart, are particularly affected. Cyanide is also known produce some of its toxic effects by binding to catalase, glutathione peroxidase, methemoglobin, hydroxocobalamin, phosphatase, tyrosinase, ascorbic acid oxidase, xanthine oxidase, succinic dehydrogenase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Cyanide binds to the ferric ion of methemoglobin to form inactive cyanmethemoglobin. (2)
MetabolismOrganic nitriles are converted into cyanide ions through the action of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver. Cyanide is rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. Cyanide is mainly metabolized into thiocyanate by either rhodanese or 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase. Cyanide metabolites are excreted in the urine. (1)
Toxicity ValuesNot Available
Lethal Dose228 to 300 milligrams for an adult human (cyanide salts). (4)
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/SourcesTetracyanoquinodimethane is an electron-acceptor that is used to prepare charge transfer salts, which are of interest in the area of molecular electronics. (3)
Minimum Risk LevelNot Available
Health EffectsExposure to high levels of cyanide for a short time harms the brain and heart and can even cause coma, seizures, apnea, cardiac arrest and death. Chronic inhalation of cyanide causes breathing difficulties, chest pain, vomiting, blood changes, headaches, and enlargement of the thyroid gland. Skin contact with cyanide salts can irritate and produce sores. (1, 2)
SymptomsCyanide poisoning is identified by rapid, deep breathing and shortness of breath, general weakness, giddiness, headaches, vertigo, confusion, convulsions/seizures and eventually loss of consciousness. (1, 2)
TreatmentAntidotes to cyanide poisoning include hydroxocobalamin and sodium nitrite, which release the cyanide from the cytochrome system, and rhodanase, which is an enzyme occurring naturally in mammals that combines serum cyanide with thiosulfate, producing comparatively harmless thiocyanate. Oxygen therapy can also be administered. (2)
Concentrations
Not Available
DrugBank IDNot Available
HMDB IDHMDB0244685
FooDB IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia Linktetracyanoquinodimethane
Chemspider ID66342
ChEBI ID52445
PubChem Compound ID73697
Kegg Compound IDNot Available
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis ReferenceNot Available
MSDSNot Available
General References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18960214
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24328081
3. Barupal DK, Fiehn O: Generating the Blood Exposome Database Using a Comprehensive Text Mining and Database Fusion Approach. Environ Health Perspect. 2019 Sep;127(9):97008. doi: 10.1289/EHP4713. Epub 2019 Sep 26.