MOLECULE

3-Indoleacetonitrile

3-Indoleacetonitrile, also known as 3-(cyanomethyl)indole or IAN, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 3-alkylindoles. 3-alkylindoles are compounds containing an indole moiety that carries an alkyl chain at the 3-position. 3-Indoleacetonitrile is a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). 3-Indoleacetonitrile exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. Outside of the human body, 3-Indoleacetonitrile is found, on average, in the highest concentration within kohlrabis. 3-Indoleacetonitrile has also been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as narrowleaf cattails, kiwis, amaranths, european chestnuts, and olives. This could make 3-indoleacetonitrile a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. A nitrile that is acetonitrile where one of the methyl hydrogens is substituted by a 1H-indol-3-yl group. 3-Indoleacetonitrile is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.