Here we report an easy synthesis of bicyclic primary cyclopropylamines directly fromunsaturatednitriles. The described reaction involves Ti(II)-mediated intramolecular coupling of alkene and nitrile moieties.
Tertiary α-cyanoamines served as the precusors of iminiumions in the presence of titanium tetrachloride. Various intramolecular nucleophiles, olefinic and acetylenic, were found to produce cyclized products. The influences of ring sizes and substitutions on the double bonds were also investigated.