1. Organic compounds formed by the addition of hydrogen cyanide to the carbonyl group of aldehydes or ketones, containing both a hydroxyl group and a nitrile group on the same carbon atom.
Usage: chemistry; plural form of cyanohydrin; also called hydroxynitriles

Examples

• Cyanohydrins are important intermediates in organic synthesis.
• The reaction between acetaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide produces cyanohydrins.
• Chemists use cyanohydrins to prepare amino acids and other valuable compounds.
• The stability of cyanohydrins depends on pH and temperature conditions.
• Many natural products contain cyanohydrins as structural components.