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Lisa Aut

Methods to prepare lactic acid from acetaldehyde

Chris Fox  Follow

A fairly simple two step synthesis involves nucleophilic addition of $\ce{HCN}$ to the carbonyl group and then aqueous hydrolysis of the nitrile to yield the carboxylic acid product.

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Alice Twain  Follow

Acetylene + $\ce{HCN-Ba(CN)2}$ → vinyl cyanide

Vinyl cyanide - hydrolysis → acetaldehyde cyanohydrin

Acetaldehyde cyanohydrin - dil HCl → lactic acid

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