5719. Mandelonitrile
Nomenclature
Description and references
Isoln of d-form from peach flower buds: Jones, Enzie, Science 134, 284 (1961). Prepn of d-form by hydrolysis of amygdalin: Auld, J. Chem. Soc. 95, 927 (1909); Smith, Ber. 64, 427 (1931). Resolution of dl-form: Feist, Arch. Pharm. 247, 226 (1909). Synthesis of l-form using cotton fibers: Bredig, Gerstner, Biochem. Z. 250, 414 (1932). Asymmetric synthesis: Krieble, Wieland, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 43, 164 (1921); Prelog, Wilhelm, Helv. Chim. Acta 37, 1634 (1954); Tsuboyama, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 35, 1004 (1962). It has been suggested that mandelonitrile may be responsible for the alleged anticancer activity of Laetrile, q.v.: see Culliton, Science 182, 1000 (1973). Metabolism study: P. D. A. Singh et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 34, 2207 (1985).
