Cyclohexanone cyanohydrin (CAS 931-97-5)

Cyclohexanone cyanohydrin is a compound that captures the interest of chemists engaged in organic synthesis and catalysis research. Its structure, featuring both a ketone and a nitrile group, makes it a versatile intermediate for the formation of a wide array of chemical products. Studies on cyclohexanone cyanohydrin often focus on the cyanohydrin reaction, where the nitrile group can serve as a precursor to carboxylic acids and their derivatives upon hydrolysis. Researchers also explore its use in stereoselective synthesis, as the chiral center adjacent to the nitrile group can be exploited to generate optically active compounds. The reactivity of cyclohexanone cyanohydrin is a subject of interest for the development of synthetic pathways to amino alcohols and other nitrogen-containing heterocycles, which are found in natural products and biologically active molecules. Additionally, the compound′s potential as a building block in polymer chemistry is examined, particularly in the creation of polymeric materials with nitrile functionality.