Into a 100 mL bottomed flask, add benzaldehyde (12.5g) and 95% ethanol (12.5 mL), follow by sodium cyanide (1.25 g), water (12.5 mL) and boiling chips then fitted with a condenser and reflux for 30 min. The reaction mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature and then cool in an ice water bath, collect the product by filtration using Buchner funnel and wash with ice-cold water. The product can be crystallized from ethanol.