Baby Safety / Compounds / 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile

Is 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile?

Also known as: alpha-cyclohexylidene benzeneacetonitrile, RefChem:555479, Benzeneacetonitrile, a-cyclohexylidene-, cyclohexylidene(phenyl)acetonitrile.

IUPAC name
2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile
CAS number
10461-98-0
Molecular formula
C14H15N
Molecular weight
197.27 g/mol
SMILES
C1CCC(=C(C#N)C2=CC=CC=C2)CC1
PubChem CID
66327

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Prenatal exposure to 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile through personal care products may affect fetal development. Some fragrance chemicals are sensitizers or endocrine-active compounds with transplacental transfer.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IFRA2020restrictionIFRA restriction — nitrile class systemic toxicity limits

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile

  • Personal Care — perfume, fragrance formulations
  • Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
    Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile:

  • Hedione
    Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Phenylethyl alcohol
    Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile?

2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile appears in: perfume (Personal care); fragrance formulations (Personal care); perfume (Fragrance); cologne (Fragrance).

What should I do if my child is exposed to 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See 2-Cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile in the baby app

Look up products containing 2-cyclohexylidene-2-phenylacetonitrile, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →