Ruthenium(II) pincer-catalyzed α-olefination of nitriles is reported. This simple protocol provides a transformation for the catalyticsynthesis of β-disubstituted vinyl nitriles using secondary alcohols. This catalytic method has an extensive substrate scope, as arylmethyl nitriles, heteroarylmethyl nitriles, and aliphatic nitriles as well as cyclic, acyclic, symmetrical, and unsymmetrical secondary
An efficient one-pot synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters and ketones consisting of the coupling reaction of α-chloronitroalkanes with the anions of diethyl α-alkylmalonates or ethyl α-alkylacetoacetates followed by deethoxycarbonylation and concomitant elimination of the nitro group is described.