Cyanohydrin


A cyanohydrin is a functional group found in organic compounds in which a cyano and a hydroxy group are attached to the same carbon atom. The general formula is R2CCN, where R is H, alkyl, or aryl. Cyanohydrins are industrially important precursors to carboxylic acids and some amino acids. Cyanohydrins can be formed by the cyanohydrin reaction, which involves treating a ketone or an aldehyde with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of excess amounts of sodium cyanide as a catalyst:
In this reaction, the nucleophilic CN− ion attacks the electrophilic carbonyl carbon in the ketone, followed by protonation by HCN, thereby regenerating the cyanide anion. Cyanohydrins are also prepared by displacement of sulfite by cyanide salts:
Cyanohydrins are intermediates in the Strecker amino acid synthesis. In aqueous acid, they are hydrolyzed to the α-hydroxy acid.

Acetone cyanohydrins

, 2CCN is the cyanohydrin of acetone. It is generated as an intermediate in the industrial production of methyl methacrylate. In the laboratory, this liquid serves as a source of HCN, which is inconveniently volatile. Thus, acetone cyanohydrin can be used for the preparation of other cyanohydrins, for the transformation of HCN to Michael acceptors, and for the formylation of arenes. Treatment of this cyanohydrin with lithium hydride affords anhydrous lithium cyanide:

Other cyanohydrins

, with the formula C6H5CHCN, occurs in small amounts in the pits of some fruits. Related cyanogenic glycosides are known, such as amygdalin.
is one of several naturally occurring cyanogenic glycosides.
Glycolonitrile, also called hydroxyacetonitrile or formaldehyde cyanohydrin, is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2CN. It is the simplest cyanohydrin, being derived from formaldehyde.

glycolonitrile
acetone cyanohydrin
mandelonitrile