Ethyl cyanide (CH₃CH₂CN) was detected by Johnson et al. toward the OMC-1 region of the Orion Molecular Cloud complex and toward Sgr B2 in 1977. Due to the amount of ethyl cyanide present in hot core sources, Brauer et al. reported improved measurements of the compound's ground state properties in 2009, while Richard et al. reported properties of the three isotomers where one normal ¹²C was replaced with ¹³C in 2012.

Ethyl cyanide or propionitrile is used industrially as a feedstock for fragrances, flavorings, and other compounds.