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InventoryRef 4063115/10/2010

PHENYLACETONITRILE

Phenylacetonitrile

PHENYLACETONITRILE is linked to 1 EU annex record on this page. Inventory note: II/424.

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Regulatory evidence by market

This matrix separates verified ingredient rules from sources that are mapped but not yet imported. No imported rule does not mean the ingredient is permitted.

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MarketEvidence statusRecordsSource language
European UnionEvidence linked
Prohibited entry found
Open this evidence		1English and EU languages
Great BritainEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English
CanadaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English and French
New ZealandEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English
ASEANEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English and national languages
ChinaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1Chinese with selected English material
JapanSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Japanese; official English translation available
South KoreaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1Korean with some English names
United StatesSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
AustraliaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
BrazilEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1Portuguese with INCI crosswalks
IndiaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1English and Hindi
Saudi ArabiaEvidence linked
Prohibited
Open this evidence		1Arabic and English

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 140-29-4
CAS 140-29-4PubChem CID 8794

Phenylacetonitrile

Phenylacetonitrile is a nitrile that is acetonitrile where one of the methyl hydrogens is substituted by a phenyl group. It has a role as a pheromone and an animal metabolite. It is a nitrile and a member of benzenes. It is functionally related to an acetonitrile. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
2-phenylacetonitrile
Molecular formula
C8H7N
Molecular weight
117.15 g/mol
Exact mass
117.057849228 Da
XLogP3
1.6
Topological polar surface area
23.8 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
1
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

BenzeneacetonitrileBENZYL CYANIDEalpha-TolunitrileBenzyl nitrilealpha-Cyanotoluene(Cyanomethyl)benzeneBenzylnitrilePhenyl acetyl nitrile
16 more reported names
Acetonitrile, phenyl-USAF KF-21Benzylkyanidomega-CyanotoluenePhenacetonitrileAcetic acid, phenyl-nitrile23G40PRP93NSC-118418CHEBI:25979RefChem:6126TOLUENE, ALPHA-CYANO205-410-5benzylcyanidePhenyl-acetonitrile2-phenylethanenitrile.omega.-Cyanotoluene
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for PHENYLACETONITRILE

INCI name

PHENYLACETONITRILE

Description

Phenylacetonitrile

Record provenance

Inventory reference
40631
Imported identity
PHENYLACETONITRILE
Source update
15/10/2010
European Commission CosIng source notes

Key data

CAS
140-29-4
EC
205-410-5
Restriction
II/424
Function
FRAGRANCE
Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#20735 · PHENYLACETONITRILE

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

PHENETHYL ACETATEFRAGRANCE
PHENETHYL ALCOHOLFRAGRANCE
PHENOLANTIMICROBIAL, DENATURANT, DEODORANT, FRAGRANCE, ORAL CARE, PRESERVATIVE
PHENYL BENZOATEFRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE
PHENYLALANINEFRAGRANCE, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING
PHENYLDIMETHOXYACETOPHENONEFRAGRANCE
PHENYLISOHEXANOLFRAGRANCE
PHENYLMETHYLPENTANALFRAGRANCE, PERFUMING

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicalsPubChem PUG RESTEU Safety Gate cosmetic product alertsECHA CHEMUS EPA CompToxCosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessmentsFDA Global Substance Registration SystemILO/WHO International Chemical Safety CardsJapan NITE-CHRIPNIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsOECD eChemPortal

How PHENYLACETONITRILE appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists PHENYLACETONITRILE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 1 annex record. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex record shows where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

PHENYLACETONITRILE is also tagged with 1 cosmetic function in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

PHENYLACETONITRILE appears in the EU CosIng inventory and has linked annex records. Check the annex records above for applicable restrictions, concentration limits and conditions of use. Annex II listing means prohibited; Annex III means restricted; Annexes IV, V and VI mean permitted under specified conditions.

The restriction field for PHENYLACETONITRILE reads: "II/424". This is the restriction note recorded in the CosIng inventory for this ingredient. For authoritative conditions and limits, always refer to the linked annex entries above.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PHENYLACETONITRILE carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 140-29-4 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.
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Source note for PHENYLACETONITRILE

This page combines the CosIng inventory entry for PHENYLACETONITRILE with 1 linked Annex II–VI record from the local dataset built from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials.

Use this inventory page to research PHENYLACETONITRILE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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