Facile Amberlyst A-21 catalyzed access of β-hydroxynitriles via epoxide opening in water

β-Hydroxynitriles are essential intermediates in the synthesis of diverse bioactive compounds and clinical drugs. One of the precursor reactions to these intermediates is the opening of an epoxide ring with a cyanide nucleophile. In the present study, we report a milder and safer route to β-hydroxynitriles employing recyclable, Amberlyst A-21 resin in the ring-opening of epoxides with acetone cyanohydrin in water. A diverse range of substrates (fifteen), including aromatic epoxides, phenoxy epoxides, non-terminal, and terminal aliphatic epoxides, are investigated under the optimized conditions to afford the desired β-hydroxynitriles in good to excellent yield. In addition to this, the recyclability of the Amberlyst A-21 resin is also successfully demonstrated. This relatively safer methodology has the potential to be explored in other organic transformations.