Cyanohydrin
From Academic Kids
Cyanohydrin is any of several compounds that contain both the CN and OH groups. The formation of cyanohydrins is an important step leading to the synthesis of carboxylic acids. Cyanohydrins are formed from reacting a ketone with hydrogen cyanide(HCN) with a small amount of sodium cyanide(NaCN) as catalyst. This reaction is a form of nucleophillic addition, where the nucleophilic CN− ion attacks the electron deficient carbon in the ketone.
