Vanadyl triflate is found to catalyze trimethylsilyl cyanide addition to a variety of ketones and aldehydes in acetonitrile at room temperature under very mild and convenient conditions to afford the corresponding cyanohydrins in excellent yields (79-96%) in a short reaction period (1-7 h). The high yields of products, compatibility of the other functional groups, and reusability of catalyst is the advantages of this method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.