A process for making a water-soluble -hydroxynitrile. A 1,2-epoxide and an inorganic cyanide salt are reacted in a solvent having aqueous methanol and a buffer therein to form -hydroxynitrile. The buffer substantially inhibits the formation of reaction products other than -hydroxynitrile. Optionally, water may be removed from the -hydroxynitrile by azeotropic distillation with acetonitrile and subsequently purified via vacuum distillation and filtration.