(dimethylsilyl)acetonitriles (Me2HSiCR3R4CN) react spontaneously with aldehydes in DMSO to give β-hydroxynitriles in good to high yields. The addition to ketones is effectively promoted by using MgCl2 or CaCl2. (Dimethylsilyl)acetonitrile (Me2HSiCH2CN) shows lower reactivity than the α-alkylated analogues. However, the parent reagent adds efficiently to aldehydes and ketones under catalysis by AcOLi or MgCl2.
Electroreduction of gamma and delta-cyano ketones in i-PrOH with Sn cathode gave alpha-hydroxy ketones and their dehydroxylated ketones as the intramolecularly coupled products. Guaiazulene, (-)-valeranone, polyquinanes, dihydrojasmone, methyl dihydrojasmonate, and rosaprostol have been synthesized by utilizing this electroreductive intramolecular coupling of gamma and delta-cyano ketones in one of the key steps. Similarly, electroreduction of a mixture of ketone and nitrile gave the corresponding intermolecularly coupled product. The product obtained by the electroreductive intermolecular coupling of (+)-dihydrocarvone with acetonitrile has been found to be the precursor of an effective chiral ligand for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes.