AlzChem Global
Agriculture
NITRALZ® - for the production of various APIs
NITRALZ® - used as intermediates for agrochemicals
NITRALZ® - versatilely applicable
NITRALZ® - for HPPs & Phthalocyanine Pigments
NITRALZ® - special solvents for individual requirements

Nitriles

AlzChem - we stand for tradition and innovation

Located in the south of Germany, AlzChem stands for tradition and innovation: Based on more than 50 years of nitriles experience we have developed and launched several new products using our technology in recent years.

We offer reliability, quality, flexibility and innovation: State-of-the-art process controls, short production changeover, German precision, proprietary catalysts and a safe supply chain.

We produce "green": Our gas-phase technology stands for low emissions and reduced waste. Our on-site incinerator converts off-gas to water and carbon dioxide, and in the case of chlorinated benzonitriles to hydrochloric acid which is used in other processes on site.

Martina Spitzer

Martina Spitzer

T +49 8621 86-2727

martina.spitzer@alzchem.com

Downloads: 
Folder NITRALZ®
Folder NITRALZ® Solvents
Folder NITRALZ® OPN
Nitriles for agrochemicals

NITRALZ® One Source – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Crops are exposed to different kinds of threats worldwide. The agro industry provides various solutions to protect them.

For the production of such agricultural products, like special fungicides, insecticides and herbicides nitriles are used.

In many innovations of agricultural products, our nitriles serve as an important component.

 

NITRALZ® stands for high quality of aromatic and aliphatic nitriles MADE IN GERMANY.

Our customers benefit from our long experience and our competence in high temperature reactions. We are also proud of our in-house catalyst development.

We guarantee high quality, efficient technologies, innovative processes and a high standard to service our partners.

 

We offer you a broad product portfolio of various intermediates for agrochemicals.

Here a few examples of our commercial nitriles mainly used in the agrochemical sector:

NITRALZ® CAS No. application area examples end product examples specification
Benzonitrile 100-47-0 herbicide, solvent Fenclorim ≥ 99,6%
n-Butyronitrile 109-74-0 solvent   ≥ 99,5%
Caprinonitrile 1975-78-6 fungicide, solvent Ametoctradin ≥ 98,0%
4-Chlorobenzonitrile 623-03-0 acaricide, insecticide

Tolfenpyrad

 ≥ 99,5%
2,3-Dichlorobenzonitrile 6574-97-6 pesticide   ≥ 99,5%
2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile 1194-65-6 herbicide, insecticide Diclobenil, Dimilin, Pyrithiobac ≥ 99,0%
3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile 6574-99-8 herbicide Cyhalofop

≥ 99,5%
Pivalonitrile 630-18-2 solvent   ≥ 99,0%

 

Did you know that 2,3-Dichlorobenzonitrile is new in the AlzChem portfolio since 2015?

AlzChem has extended the product range with another aromatic nitrile. 2,3-Dichlorobenzonitrile (CAS No. 6574-97-69) is new in the AlzChem portfolio. Its main application is in the life science segment.

 

Take a look at our product list
Solvents

NITRALZ® One Source – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Nitriles serve as special solvents for individual requirements. These high quality solvents are used in agriculture, pharmaceutical and industrial application. Aliphatic nitriles and the aromatic derivative, Benzonitrile, are attracting increasing attention as specialty solvents in organic synthesis.

Their dipolar, aprotic properties, their solvent characteristics, such as the dissolution capacity of polar chemicals and the liquid range allow the user to choose the ideal solvent for every application. What´s more, they are stable and inert in many chemical conversions and can be used at a wide temperature range.

High quality nitriles via gas phase technology MADE IN GERMANY:

SOLVENT CAS No. MOLECULAR WEIGHT (g/Mol) MELTING POINT   (°C) BOILING PONT   (°C) FLASH POINT (°C) DENSITY (g/ml) SOLUBILITY IN WATER (g/100g) DIELECTRIC CONSTANT APPLICATIONS
Benzonitrile 100-47-0 103.1 -13 191 67 1.01 0.40 26.0 The most popular and most versatile aromatic nitrile solvent; more stable than acetonitrile (no labile α-H atom!)
Butyronitrile 109-74-0 69.11 -112 117 18 0.79 3.35 20.3 Standard solvent with a broad temperature range
Decanonitrile 1975-78-6 153.3 -18 241-244 102 0.81 Traces 10.6 High temperature applications, surface active compound
Isobutyronitrile 78-82-0 69.11 -72 104 8 0.77 3.70 20.4 The alternative to butyronitrile
Pivalonitrile 630-18-2 83.13 15-16 104-106 4 0.76 4.7 21.1 Ideal solvent for organic and organometallic transformations due to a bulky tert-butyl group
Valeronitrile 110-59-8 83.13 -96 141 34 0.80 1.30 17.4 Medium polar solvent with a broad temperature range; pharmaceutical applications, e.g. WO2006010545A1

 

Polarity and liquid range of NITRALZ® solvents:

Take a look at our product list
Nitriles for pharmaceuticals

NITRALZ® One Source – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Our NITRALZ® products are used as intermediates for the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) production.

AlzChem is the independent and reliable Western source for many nitriles / gas phase reactions.

By special distillation we achieve high quality and purity of our nitriles. Furthermore we are proud of our in-house catalyst development. By applying our extensive catalyst Know-How and innovation thoughts we have branched out into additional groups of molecules, like ketones (e.g. 3-Acetylpyridine).

To meet your needs our R&D works closely with your team to develop advanced chemical solutions.
Thus the production from gram scale to ton scale is no problem for us.

 

High quality nitriles via gas phase technology MADE IN GERMANY:

We offer a broad product portfolio for the production of APIs.

AlzChem features e.g. 2-Chlorobenzonitrile (CAS No. 1867-66-9) available from stock in three different qualities:

  • Standard Quality –          as organic building block for industrial use.
  • Extra Pure Quality –       mainly used for the production of Ketamine hydrochloride.
  • Super Quality –               with the highest purity of min. 99,5%, an outstanding quality is available for active pharmaceutical ingredients.

 

Furthermore our NITRALZ® 4-Aminobenzonitrile serves as essential intermediate for APIs like Dabigatran or Frovatriptan.

Another product we would like to highlight is our 3-Acetylpyridine, which is used for the production of the API Imatinib.

Please find here a few examples of our nitriles mainly used as intermediates for pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use:

Human medicine application:

NITRALZ®

CAS No.

application area examples

end product examples

4-Aminobenzonitrile

873-74-5

anti-migrane

anti-atherosclerotic

anticoagulant

treatment of HIV

anti-cancer

anti-asthmatic

Dabigatran

Frovatriptan

Goxalapladib

Rilpivirine

2-Bromobenzonitrile

2042-37-7

anti-hypertensive

anti-epileptic

Irbesartan

Perampanel

4-Bromobenzonitrile

623-00-7

analgesic
ocular anti-inflammatory

Bromfenac

2-Chlorobenzonitrile

873-32-5

anti-hypertensive

analgesic

hypnotic

anesthetic

Ketamine  Hydrochloride

4-Chlorobenzonitrile

623-03-0

anti-allergic

aromatase inhibitor

Lodoxamide Tromethamine

2,3-Dichlorobenzonitrile

 6574-97-6 anti-epileptic Lamotrigine

2,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile

6574-98-7

treatment of HIV

Dolutegravir

Pivalonitrile

630-18-2

bronchodilator

Pirbuterol

4-Tolunitrile

104-85-8

anti-histaminic

hemostatic

anti-ulcerative

anti-neoplastic

Letrozole
3-Acetylpyridine 350-03-8 anti-leukemia drug Imatinib

 

Veterinary medicine application:

NITRALZ®

CAS No.

application area examples

end product examples

Benzonitrile

100-47-0

antibacterial

Florfenicol, Robenacoxib

n-Butyronitrile

109-74-0

anticoccidial

Amprolium

4-Chlorobenzonitrile

623-03-0

contraceptive

Lotrifen

3-Acetylpyridine

350-03-8

tyrosine-kinase inhibitor treatment of mast cell tumors

Masitinib

 

Special solvents:

NITRALZ®

CAS No.

n-Butyronitrile

109-74-0

Pivalonitrile

630-18-2

4-Heptanone

123-19-3

 

Did you know that …

Over 30 nitrile-containing pharmaceuticals are prescribed for a diverse variety of medicinal indications with more than 20 additional nitrile-containing leads in clinical development.
The nitrile group is quite robust and, in most cases, is not readily metabolized but passes through the body unchanged. The types of pharmaceuticals containing nitriles are diverse, from vildagliptin, an antidiabetic drug, to anastrozole, which is the gold standard in treating breast cancer. In many instances the nitrile mimics functionality present in substrates for enzymes, whereas in other cases the nitrile increases water solubility or decreases susceptibility to oxidative metabolism in the liver. The nitrile functional group is found in several drugs. (Fleming et al. 2010: 7902)

 
Fleming, Fraser F.; Lao, Lihua; Ravikumar, P.C; Funk, Lee and Shook, Brian C. (2010): Nitrile-Containing Pharmaceuticals. Efficacious Roles of the Nitrile Pharmacophor, in: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 53 (22), pp 7902-7917.

 

Take a look at our product list
Nitriles for industrial use

NITRALZ® One Source – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

High quality nitriles via gas phase technology MADE IN GERMANY:

 

Some nitriles are used in different industries as intermediates or solvents.

Their application varies from UV-absorption to liquid crystals for displays. Converted to Benzylamine, they act as cross linker for rubbers.

 

Please find a few examples of our nitriles used as intermediates for industrial use:

NITRALZ®

CAS No.

 application area examples
Benzonitrile 100-47-0 benzylamine production
4-Bromobenzonitrile 623-00-7 production of amides
2-Chlorobenzonitrile 873-32-5 polymerization catalysts

 

 

Take a look at our product list
Nitriles for HPP & Phthalocyanine Pigments

NITRALZ® One Source – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

High quality nitriles via gas phase technology MADE IN GERMANY:

We offer you a broad product portfolio for the production of your Diketopyrrolopyrrol-Pigments (DPP Pigments).

 

Our NITRALZ® products are used as intermediates for example for the following High Performance Pigments (HPP):

NITRALZ®

 CAS No. used for the production of specification
Benzonitrile 100-47-0 Pigment Red 255 (PR 255) ≥ 99,6%
4-Bromobenzonitrile  623-00-7 orange-red ≥ 99,0%
3-Chlorobenzonitrile 766-84-7 orange-red ≥ 99,0%
4-Chlorobenzonitrile 623-03-0 Pigment Red 254 (PR 254) ≥ 99,5%
o-Phthalodinitrile 91-15-6 Pigment Yellow (PY 139) ≥ 99,5%
4-tert.-Butylbenzonitrile 4210-32-6 Pigment Orange 73 (PO 73) ≥ 98,0%
4-Tolunitrile 104-85-8 Pigment Red 272 (PR 272) ≥ 98,5%

 

DPP-Pigments are very resistant against light, weather, solvents, heat and chemicals and so they are suitable for quality formulations.

 

Our o-Phthalodinitrile (OPN) can be also used for the production of Phthalocyanines:

NITRALZ®

 CAS No. used for the production of specification
o-Phthalodinitrile 91-15-6 Phthalocyanine Blue 15 (PB 15) ≥ 99,5%
o-Phthalodinitrile 91-15-6 Phthalocyanine Green 7 (PG 7) ≥ 99,5%
o-Phthalodinitrile 91-15-6 Phthalocyanine Green 36 (PG 36) ≥ 99,5%

 

Our OPN has a very high purity and is characterized by low impurities and metal content.

 

Using OPN instead of the route using phthalic acid anhydride brings the following advantages in producing phthalocyanine pigments:

  • More brighter and brilliant pigments.
  • Only one reaction step is required.
  • Direct synthesis with very little formation of by-products and waste water.
    (The structure of the Phthalocyanine is already preformed in the o-Phthalodinitrile)
  • Economic advantages (– because via the PSA route there is only a yield of around 80% and so many by-products have to be disposed of).

 

We can offer our nitriles in different packaging like cardboard boxes, steel drums and iso-containers.

 

Did you know that …

Some of the aromatic nitriles are used to manufacture organic pigments, diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPPs). They are obtained through the condensation of two molecules of nitrile with dimethyl succinate. Depending on the substitution pattern they create yellow, orange, orange and red color pigments. The pigments are used in automotive paints, to dye plastics, in emulsion paints and others. The best-known is certainly PR 254, Irgazine® Red.

PR 254

This pigment provided for the first time a relatively non-toxic and light-fast alternative to Zinnober Red and to the later Cadmium Red. Its inclusion in an automotive paint for a very special car has given this red pigment its nickname – Ferrari Red.

Take a look at our product list
Take a look at our product list

News

AlzChem Group AG: Expansion begins on nitrile production

Company aims to markedly expand its global market position with investments of EUR 7.2 million and a significant increase in capacities Broadening the product range will open new target markets and applications Trostberg, September 6, 2018 - AlzChem Group AG has begun its significant expansion of its nitrile business. With an investment volume of EUR 7.2 million, AlzChem will increase production capacities for nitriles by mid-2019. The expansion of this product segment is part of a...
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Reliability, short-term availability and competitively priced

A prime example of this are our Melflock® products, which are mostly used as flocculants in the paper and water treatment industries. Because of the backward integration of our most important raw material ‘Dicyandiamide’ we can ensure the availability of all our Melflock® products. The diligent work of our customer service and logistic department is the reason why we can keep up with regular delivery times within Europe, whereas the European transport market itself is running into trouble...
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AlzChem research uncovers new synthesis route for amidines

Trostberg. Amidines are organic chemical compounds with an NCN structure, meaning a typical nitrogen-carbon-nitrogen sequence. These types of chemicals are one of AlzChem’s core competencies. NCN structures are contained in many biologically active molecules, which is why a general new synthesis method is so important to the development and production of active ingredients in pharmaceuticals and crop protection. Amidines to this point have been difficult to synthesize, particularly without...
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Cyanamide and its derivatives as building blocks used in our multipurpose plants

Based on its expertise and the long tradition of calcium carbide and calcium cyanamide production AlzChem continues to be the leading manufacturer of cyanamide and its derivatives. Cyanamide can be used as an amidinating reagent for practically every amine. If cyanamide proves to be too unreactive for a reaction then AlzChem also offers suitable solutions for this, e.g. in the form of the derivative chloroformamidine hydrochloride. Cyanamid and its derivatives represent valuable N=C=N...
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