CYANOHYDRIN REACTION Meaning and
Definition
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Cyanohydrin reaction refers to a chemical reaction that involves the formation of a cyanohydrin compound from an aldehyde or ketone. It is a nucleophilic addition reaction that occurs between a carbonyl group and a cyanide ion (CN-), resulting in the addition of a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a cyano group (-C≡N) to the carbonyl carbon.
The cyanohydrin reaction is typically catalyzed by a cyanide source, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or a metal cyanide salt. The reaction proceeds through the attack of the nucleophilic cyanide ion on the electrophilic carbonyl carbon, leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. This intermediate then undergoes proton transfer and subsequent elimination of a water molecule, resulting in the formation of the cyanohydrin compound.
Cyanohydrin reactions have wide-ranging applications in organic synthesis, as they offer an efficient means to introduce a cyano group into organic molecules. The resulting cyanohydrin compounds can serve as versatile synthetic intermediates and are used in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fine chemicals. Additionally, cyanohydrins are commonly employed in the production of α-amino acids, which are essential building blocks of proteins.
Overall, the cyanohydrin reaction is a valuable tool in organic chemistry that enables the synthesis of diverse compounds by selectively introducing a cyano group onto carbonyl-containing molecules.
Etymology of CYANOHYDRIN REACTION
The word "cyanohydrin reaction" consists of two main components:
1. "Cyanohydrin":
- "Cyan-" is derived from the Greek word "kyanos", meaning "blue" or "dark blue". This term was used to describe the blue-green color of cyanide salts.
- "Hydrin" is a suffix derived from the word "hydrate", which refers to a compound containing water molecules chemically bound.
2. "Reaction":
- "Reaction" comes from the Latin word "reactio", meaning "a response" or "a recoil".
Therefore, the word "cyanohydrin reaction" describes a chemical reaction that involves the formation of a cyanohydrin compound. The term "cyanohydrin" refers to a molecule containing a hydroxy group (-OH) and a cyano group (-CN).
