Hydroxynitriles
Hydroxynitriles are formed by cyanide addition to aldehydes or ketones and provide a carbonyl-derived route with one extra carbon.
- Functional group
- C(OH)-CN
- Also known as
- cyanohydrins, hydroxynitrile, cyanohydrin
Overview
Cyanohydrin products containing both OH and CN functionality.
Hydroxynitriles are formed by cyanide addition to aldehydes or ketones and provide a carbonyl-derived route with one extra carbon.
Identifiers
- Functional group
- C(OH)-CN
- Also known as
- cyanohydrins, hydroxynitrile, cyanohydrin
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CC(O)C#N
Related compounds
- 2-Hydroxypropanenitrile
The cyanohydrin of ethanal, with hydroxyl and nitrile groups attached to the same carbon.
- 2-Hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile
The cyanohydrin of propanone, retaining two equivalent methyl groups.
Connected reactions
- Cyanohydrin formation: Aldehydes → Hydroxynitriles
Cyanide addition to an aldehyde forms a hydroxynitrile, giving a carbonyl-route analogue of the nitrile chain-extension motif.
- Cyanohydrin formation: Ketones → Hydroxynitriles
Cyanide addition to a ketone forms a hydroxynitrile, adding a second carbonyl route into the expanded organic network.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: 2-Hydroxypropanenitrile (CID 6572)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and selected English aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-16. Chinese search names are curated nomenclature translations. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.
- PubChem Compound Summary: 2-Hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile (CID 6406)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and selected English aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-16. Chinese search names are curated nomenclature translations. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.