What is "cyanohydrin"

n. (context chemistry English) Any compound having both a hydroxy and a cyanide functional group, especially one having these groups attached to the same carbon atom.

n. any organic compound in which the cyano radical -CN and the hydroxyl radical -OH are attached to the same carbon atom

A cyanohydrin is a functional group found in organic compounds. It is most commonly examples having a cyano and a hydroxy group attached to the same carbon atom with the formula RC(OH)CN, 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 (HCN) in the presence of excess amounts of sodium cyanide (NaCN) 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.