Cyanohydrin

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A cyanohydrin (or hydroxynitrile) is any of several compounds that contain both the cyanide and hydroxide groups. The formation of cyanohydrins is an important step in the synthesis of some carboxylic acids. Geminal cyanohydrins can be formed by reacting a ketone with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and a small amount of sodium cyanide (NaCN) as catalyst in the cyanohydrin reaction. This reaction is a form of nucleophilic addition, in which the nucleophilic CN⁻ ion attacks the electron deficient carbon in the ketone.