noun
- Plural of nitril; organic compounds containing a carbon-nitrogen triple bond (C≡N), also called isonitriles or isocyanides.
Usage: chemistry; technical term; less common variant spelling of 'isonitriles'
Examples
- Nitrils are important intermediates in organic synthesis.
- The chemist studied the reactivity of various nitrils in the laboratory.
- Nitrils can be prepared by dehydration of primary amides.
- These nitrils exhibit characteristic chemical properties distinct from regular nitriles.