synthesis of ketone cyanohydrin esters in aqueous media is reported using N-acylbenzotriazoles as the acylating agents. In saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate containing a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide, the reaction of ketones with potassium cyanide and N-acylbenzotriazoles proceeded readily at room temperature to provide the corresponding O-acyl cyanohydrin derivatives in good to excellent