4-Ethynylbenzonitrile is a simple benzyl alkyne compound potentially useful as a synthetic fragment and as a test compound for cross-coupling protocols. 4-Ethynylbenzonitrile has been described as a model compound for studying hydrogen bond formation in multifunctional molecules, as it contains four hydrogen bonding sites of which three are π-acceptors.A simple benzyl alkyne. 4-Ethynylbenzonitrile is a simple benzyl alkyne compound potentially useful as a synthetic fragment and as a test compound for cross-coupling protocols. 4-Ethynylbenzonitrile has been described as a model compound for studying hydrogen bond formation in multifunctional molecules, as it contains four hydrogen bonding sites of which three are π-acceptors. A simple benzyl alkyne.