Acetaldehyde cyanhydrin

Ethyl lactate is produced by the esterification of lactic acid with ethanol in the presence of a little mineral oil, or by combination of acetaldehyde with hydrocyanic acid to form acetaldehyde cyanhydrin. This is followed by treatment with ethanol (95%) and hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. Purification is achieved using fractional distillation. The commercial product is a racemic mixture. 

Phenyl ether see 1-Phenoxypropionic acid. Nitrile-, laotonitrile, acetaldehyde cyanhydrin. CgHgON. MW, 71. B.p. 182-4° slight decomp., 102°/30 mm., 90717 mm. Df 0-9877. 

Ammonoxidation of propylene with ammonia and oxygen produces acrylonitrile, CH2=CHCN. Other acrylonitrile syntheses proceed from acetaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide via a-hydroxypropionitrile, or from ethylene oxide via ethylene cyanhydrin. 

Another economical process involves the oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde with the aid of palladium salts and combination of the acetaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide to produce a cyanhydrin which on dehydration yields acrylonitrile. 

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