Q.
A carbonyl compound reacts with hydrogen cyanide to form cyanohydrin which on hydrolysis forms a racemic mixture of α-hydroxy acid. The carbonyl compound is
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AIPMTAIPMT 2006Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
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Solution:
Acetaldehyde reacts with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to form cyanohydrin (CH3CH(OH)CN)
which on hydrolysis forms a racemic mixture of α - hydroxy acid (CH3CH(OH)COOH)
As the cyanohydrin of acetaldehyde contains chiral centre so we will get racemic mixture.