a-amino acids constitute a particularly important class of difunctional compound.  They are the building blocks from which proteins are constructed.

There are several synthetic route. One of them is the hydrolysis of a-aminonitriles,  which are available by the treatment of aldehydes with ammonia and HCN:

The mechanism of formation of the a-aminonitrile probably involves the addition of HCN to the imine, which is formed by condensation of the aldehydes with ammonia:

It is convenient to employ aqueous ammonium chloride and sodium cyanide as the reagents, ammonia being generated in situ by hydrolysis.

Hydrolysis of the a-aminonitrile give an a-amino acid, and the total process constitues a useful method of synthesis of these compounds.

Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Andrew Streitwieser
Clayton H. Heathcock
University of Carnifornia, Berkeley

Principles of Organic Synthesis
Third Edition
R. O. C. Norman  KBE FRS
Rector, Exeter College,
University of Oxford, UK

J. M. Coxon  FRSNZ
Professor of Chemistry,
University of Canterbury, New Zealand