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 betahydroxynitrile. The buffer substantially inhibits the formation of reaction products other than betahydroxynitrile. Optionally, water may be removed from the betahydroxynitrile by azeotropic distillation with acetonitrile and subsequently purified via vacuum distillation and filtration.