[Chemistry of alpha-aminonitriles.  Aziridine-2-carbonitrile:  photochemical formation from 2-aminopropenenitrile].
2-Aminopropenenitrile in solvents such as MeCN, MeOH, or H2O is photoisomerized by UV light to racemic aziridine-2-carbonitrile (rac-2); the larger part of the starting material, however, fragments to HCN and MeCN.  The observed photocyclization constitutes a structural connection within an ensemble of C3H4N2 compounds considered to be potentially relevant to prebiotic chemistry.
Drenkard
S
S
Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule, Zürich.
Ferris
J
J
Eschenmoser
A
A
D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018533:Biomass; D003500:Cyclization; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009570:Nitriles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry; D012997:Solvents; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water
D000097:Acetonitriles; D009570:Nitriles; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide