Process for forming .alpha.-aminonitriles from carbonyl compound and fatty amine hydrohalide

A process for forming an .alpha.-aminonitrile compound which comprises reacting a carbonyl compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde and a ketone with a fatty amine hydrohalide reagent, comprising a fatty alkyl group of from ten to twenty-two carbon atoms, selected from the group consisting of a primary amine hydrohalide, a secondary amine hydrohalide, and a fatty alkyl alkylene diamine of the formula R'NHR"NH(R'"), where R' is fatty alkyl of from ten to twenty-two carbon atoms, R" is alkylene of from one to six carbon atoms, and R'" is hydrogen or alkyl of from one to twenty-two carbon atoms in the presence of a cyanide source to form said .alpha.-aminonitrile compound.