benzyl cyanide

[′ben·zəl ′sī·ə‚nīd]

(organic chemistry)

C₆H₅CH₂CN A toxic, colorless liquid; insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol and ethanol; boils at 234°C; used in organic synthesis.

Mentioned in

Bromobenzyl Cyanide

References in periodicals archive

As reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Hilker and her co-workers determined that when a female cabbage butterfly lays her eggs on a Brussels sprout plant and attaches her treasures to the leaves with tiny dabs of glue, the vigilant vegetable detects the presence of a simple additive in the glue, benzyl cyanide. Cued by the additive, the plant swiftly alters the chemistry of its leaf surface to beckon female parasitic wasps.

Here's the lurid Edgar Allan Poetry of it: that benzyl cyanide tip-off was donated to the female butterfly by the male during mating.

How plants defend themselves: maybe it's time to reconsider what we think about plants: they hear, touch, see and even "talk" in order to survive

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