Cyanohydrins are considered to be versatile synthons in organic synthesis because they can be readily converted to a-hydroxycarboxylic acids, 1) a-hydroxyaldehydes2) and ethanolamine derivatives, 3) which include a number of physiologically active compounds. Lactic acid, tartaric acid, ephedrine and fj-adrenergic blocking agents are the representative examples of these classes of compounds. Thus, synthesis of chiral cyanohydrins is ...
