cyanohydrin
Definition
- Noun:
- An organic compound containing both a cyano group (-CN) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom: A cyanohydrin is a specific type of chemical compound formed by the addition of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to a carbonyl group (like that in an aldehyde or ketone).
Usage
- Noun:
- Acetone cyanohydrin is an important intermediate in the production of methyl methacrylate.
- The formation of a cyanohydrin is a key step in some synthetic pathways for amino acids.
Advanced Usage
- In Biochemistry: Cyanohydrins can be found as intermediates in the biosynthesis of certain cyanogenic glycosides in plants, which can release hydrogen cyanide.
- Some plants store cyanide in the form of cyanohydrin glycosides as a defense mechanism.
Variants and Related Words
- Cyanohydrin synthesis (n): The chemical reaction process that produces a cyanohydrin, typically the nucleophilic addition of cyanide to a carbonyl compound.
Synonyms
- Hydroxynitrile: This is a systematic name for the same class of compounds, emphasizing the hydroxyl and nitrile functional groups.
Noun
-
any organic compound in which the cyano radical -CN and the hydroxyl radical -OH are attached to the same carbon atom
