The following rate constants have been determined for the reaction of acrylonitrile (AN) with e^–_aq, H, OH and O^–: k(e^–_aq+ AN)=(1.3 ± 0.2)× 10¹⁰ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1; k(H + AN)=(4.0 ± 0.5)× 10⁹ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1; k(OH + AN)=(2.9 ± 0.3)× 10⁹ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1; k(O^–+ AN)=(2.0 ± 0.3)× 10⁹ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1. The transient species which result from these reactions exhibit weak absorption bands between 240 and 300 nm. Some of these bands have been characterised and assigned to the radicals CH₃ĊHCN (λ_max∼ 285 nm, ε_max∼ 270 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1), HOCH₂ĊHCN (λ_max∼ 285 nm, ε_max∼ 330 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1), CH₂CHCHN (λ_max∼ 270 nm), ĊH₂CHCNH (λ_max∼ 255 nm). Reaction of e^–_aq with ClCH₂CH₂CN to generate ĊH₂CH₂CN showed that this radical does not absorb above 240 nm.

Analysis of the permanent products of repetitively pulse irradiated solutions of acrylonitrile showed that the major products are NC(CH₂)₄CN, CH₃CH(CN)CH₂CH₂CN and CH₃CH(CN)CH(CN)CH₃, indicating that the radicals react predominantly by coupling.

Comparison of e.s.r. spectra obtained by reaction of mobile electrons with acrylonitrile and chloro-substituted propionitriles in neutral and alkaline glasses at 77 K showed that the radical anion AN^–• protonates to give CH₃ĊHCN. In solution at 300 K, however, protonation is believed to occur at all positions, though with varying probabilities.