A method for the fluorocyanation of enamines has been described. The reaction involves fluorination of the electron rich double bond with N-F reagent (Selectfluor or NFSI) accompanied by trapping of beta-fluoroiminium cationic intermediate with cyanide nucleophile.
Easy and straightforward access to α-aminonitrile units by one-potsynthesis through a reductive Strecker cyanation from readily available formamides. The reaction is broad in scope and the conditions are mild, inexpensive, and easy to set-up, providing numerous α-aminonitriles in good yields (34 examples, 41–94 % yield).