Synthesis and characterization of four alkyl 2‐cyanoacrylate monomers and their precursors for use in latent fingerprint detection

Four novel cyanoacrylates, 2‐cyanoethyl 2‐cyanoacrylate, 1‐cyanoethyl 2‐cyanoacrylate, trideuteromethyl 2‐cyanoacrylate and pentadeuteroethyl 2‐cyanoacrylate have been synthesized using a Diels‐Alder protection/deprotection route involving anthracene. The common route for the synthesis of alkyl 2‐cyanoacrylates was found to be unsatisfactory for the production of small quantities of the targeted cyanoacrylates, which have potential as reagents for the mid‐infrared spectral imaging of fingerprints on difficult surfaces.