noun
- organic compounds containing a carbon-nitrogen triple bond (-C≡N)
Usage: chemistry; plural form
Examples
- Nitriles are important intermediates in organic synthesis.
- Acetonitrile is one of the most commonly used nitriles in laboratories.
- The chemist studied the properties of various nitriles.
- Nitriles can be converted to carboxylic acids through hydrolysis.
- Many pharmaceuticals contain nitrile functional groups.
- The reaction produced several different nitriles as products.