Acetone cyanohydrin is most commonly used in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate (MMA) which is a key monomer for producing acrylic plastics such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It is also used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals agrochemicals and specialty chemicals. Due to its ability to release hydrogen cyanide it must be handled with strict safety precautions in industrial and laboratory environments.

The primary purpose of acetone cyanohydrin is to serve as a precursor in the production of other industrial chemicals. Its structure makes it particularly useful for introducing nitrile functionality into molecules which can then be further transformed i

Acetone cyanohydrin is a colorless to pale yellow liquid . It is formed by the reaction of acetone with hydrogen cyanide resulting in a compound that contains both a hydroxyl group and a nitrile group attached to the same carbon atom. It has a faint odor and is highly reactive especially under acidic or basic conditions where it can release hydrogen cyanide.