AbstractThe use of iron(II) chloride as catalyst, trimethylsilyl cyanide as source of cyanide ions, and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant enabled the conversion of aromatic, benzylic, and aliphatic tertiary amines into α‐amino nitriles under mild conditions. Chemoselective functionalization of NCH3 to NCH2CN was achieved in the presence of N‐benzyl and N‐alkyl groups. N,N‐Dialkylanilines, PhNR2, with R=Et, Bu, Bn furnished the alkyl(aryl)aminoacetonitriles PhN(R)CH2CN as the main products accompanied by α‐amino nitriles generated by ordinary α‐cyanation of the aniline PhNR2. Formation of PhN(R)CH2CN was rationalized by oxidative degradation of N,N‐dialkylanilines to N‐alkylanilines, their condensation with formaldehyde, generated by oxidation of the solvent methanol, and final trapping of the thus formed iminium ions by cyanide.magnified image
Potassium Thiocyanate as Source of Cyanide for the Oxidative α-Cyanation of Tertiary Amines
作者:Alexander Wagner、Armin R. Ofial
DOI:10.1021/jo502846c
日期:2015.3.6
Oxidation at the sulfur of the safe-to-handle potassium thiocyanate releases cyanide units that are trapped in the presence of co-oxidized tertiaryamines to form α-amino nitriles. These cyanations work in aqueous solutions and do not require a catalyst, nor do they form toxic byproducts.