A general α-cyanoformylation using α-litho-β-ethoxyacrylonitrile: application to the syntheses of new 6-cyano-2,4-bis(phenylthio)- and 4-cyano-2,6-bis(phenylthio)hepta-2,4,6-trienals
A new α-cyanoformylation of aldehydes and ketones proceeds in good to high yields using α-lithioacrylonitrile. This novel α-cyanoformylation is successfully applied to the preparation of two kinds of hepta-2,4,6-trienals, bearing a 6-cyano group (10) and a 4-cyano group (12).