Cyanogen Bromide, a chemical compound commonly used in protein sequencing, is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /saɪˌænədʒən ˈbroʊmaɪd/. The first syllable, "cya," is pronounced with a long "i" sound, while the second syllable, "no," is pronounced with a short "o" sound. The stress falls on the second syllable, "brom," which is pronounced with a short "o" sound and a silent e. The final syllable, "ide," is pronounced with a long "i" sound and a silent e.
Cyanogen bromide is a chemical compound that is classified as an inorganic bromide and has the molecular formula CNBr. It is a white or pale yellow crystalline solid with a pungent odor. Cyanogen bromide is composed of cyanide and bromine atoms, with the cyanide group attached to the bromine atom. It is highly reactive and should be handled with care due to its toxic and potentially hazardous properties.
Cyanogen bromide is primarily used in organic synthesis and biochemical research. Its reactivity is exploited to cleave peptide bonds, which are essential in breaking down proteins into smaller peptide fragments. This process is known as cyanogen bromide cleavage. It specifically targets the peptide bond at the carboxyl side of methionine residues in proteins, resulting in the production of peptide fragments.
In addition to its applications in protein research, cyanogen bromide is also employed as a starting material for various organic compounds, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It serves as a source of the cyanide group in chemical reactions, enabling the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds in a range of organic synthesis processes.
Due to its toxic nature and potential health hazards, cyanogen bromide should be handled and stored with caution. Exposure to this compound can lead to respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, and prolonged or high-level exposure can pose serious health risks.
The word "cyanogen bromide" is derived from two main components: "cyanogen" and "bromide".
1. Cyanogen: The term "cyanogen" comes from the Greek words "kyanos" meaning "blue" and "gennan" meaning "to generate or produce". It was named so because when cyanogen gas is exposed to a flame, it produces a blue-colored flame.
2. Bromide: The term "bromide" refers to a compound containing the element bromine. The root "bromo-" originates from the Greek word "bromos", meaning "stench" or "stench of the sea", representing the unpleasant odor of some bromine compounds.
When the two components are combined, "cyanogen bromide" refers to a compound made up of cyanogen (C₂N₂) and bromine (Br₂).