Tetraethylammonium cyanide is the organic compound with the formula [(CH3CH2)4N]CN. It is a "quat salt" of hydrogen cyanide. It consists of tetraethylammonium cations [(CH3CH2)4N] and cyanide anions CN. This salt is a colorless, deliquescent solid that is soluble in polar organic media. It is used in the synthesis of cyanometallates.
Tetraethylammonium cyanide is prepared by ion exchange from tetraethylammonium bromide. The corresponding tetraphenylarsonium salt is prepared similarly.
In chemistry, cyanide (from Greek kyanosĀ 'dark blue') is an inorganic chemical compound that contains a Cā”N functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.
Ionic cyanides contain the cyanide anion Cā”N. This anion is extremely toxic and causes cyanide poisoning. Soluble cyanide salts such as sodium cyanide (NaCN), potassium cyanide (KCN) and tetraethylammonium cyanide ([(CH3CH2)4N]CN) are also highly toxic.