Mandelonitrile
In organic chemistry, mandelonitrile is the nitrile of mandelic acid, or the cyanohydrin derivative of benzaldehyde. Small amounts of mandelonitrile occur in the pits of some fruits.
Occurrence
Mandelonitrile is the aglycone part of the cyanogenic glycosides prunasin and amygdalin. Prunasin can be hydrolyzed by the enyzme prunase into glucose and mandelonitrile.The naturally occurring - enantiomer finds use as an intermediate in the preparation of optically active α-hydroxy carboxylic acids, α-hydroxy aldehydes, α-hydroxy ketones, and 2-amino alcohols.
Mandelonitrile can break down into cyanide and benzaldehyde, a reaction that can be catalyzed by the enzyme mandelonitrile lyase.