Manufacture of water-soluble beta-hydroxynitriles

摘要

A process for making a water-soluble beta-hydroxynitrile. A 1,2-epoxide and an inorganic cyanide salt are reacted in a solvent having aqueous methanol and a buffer therein to form beta-hydroxynitrile. The buffer substantially inhibits the formation of reaction products other than beta-hydroxynitrile. Optionally, water may be removed from the beta-hydroxynitrile by azeotropic distillation with acetonitrile and subsequently purified via vacuum distillation and filtration.