Recent advances for the photoinduced C-C bond cleavage of cycloketone oximes

Nitriles are widely existed in many bioactive compounds, and they can be easily transformed into other functional groups. Therefore, the synthesis of nitriles under cyanide-free conditions is of significant importance. Recent advances for the synthesis of nitriles through photoinduced C-C bond cleavage of cycloketone oximes classified by the type of C-X bond forming are summarized. Various compounds possessing nitriles can be efficiently accessed via this method.     

Direct, facile synthesis of acyl azides and nitriles from carboxylic acids using bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride

A mild, efficient, and practical method for the one-step synthesis of acyl azides from carboxylic acids using bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride is described. The reaction was easily extended to the synthesis of the corresponding nitriles by the inclusion of phosphorous reagents. The method can be applied to the synthesis of optically active nitriles in high yields, and is compatible with fluorous phosphines.     

A green and efficient access to awl nitriles via an electrochemicalanodic oxidation

The nitrile functionality is a key building block in synthetic chemistry, and has wide applications in pharmaceuticals. However, traditional methodologies for the synthesis of nitriles are limited to harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report a new and efficient access to aryl nitriles by an electrochemical synthesis. Compared with the conventional synthetic methods, this electrochemical synthesis is more environmentally friendly and easier to handle.     

Ureidopeptide‐Based Brønsted Bases: Design,Synthesis and Application to the Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Amino Nitriles from (Arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles

The addition of cyanoalkyl moieties to imines is a very attractive method for the preparation of β‐amino nitriles. We present a highly efficient organocatalytic methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of β‐amino nitriles, in which the key to success is the use of ureidopeptide‐based Brønsted base catalysts in combination with (arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles as synthetic equivalents of the acetonitrile anion. The method gives access to a variety of β‐amino nitriles with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities, and broadens the stereoselective Mannich‐type methodologies available for their synthesis.     

A green and efficient access to aryl nitriles via an electrochemical anodic oxidation

The nitrile functionality is a key building block in synthetic chemistry, and has wide applications in pharmaceuticals. However, traditional methodologies for the synthesis of nitriles are limited to harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report a new and efficient access to aryl nitriles by an electrochemical synthesis. Compared with the conventional synthetic methods, this electrochemical synthesis is more environmentally friendly and easier to handle.     

Metal‐Free Synthesis of Highly Substituted Pyridines by Formal [2+2+2] Cycloaddition under Mild Conditions

The synthesis of pyridines through direct intermolecular cycloaddition of alkynes and nitriles is a contemporary challenge in organic synthesis. A Brønsted acid mediated formal [2+2+2] cycloaddition of heteroalkynes and nitriles was developed that proceeds under mild conditions. This constitutes a modular approach to highly substituted pyridine cores.     

Acid Catalyzed Multicomponent Reaction to Access Functionalized N-Benzhydryl Amides: A Tandem Ritter Reaction

Acid catalyzed multicomponent reaction (MCR) for the synthesis of N-benzhydryl amide derivatives from aldehydes, N,N-disubstituted arylamines and nitriles is reported. The reaction is compatible with electronically differentiating aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes/acetals, different nucleophiles (cyclic and acyclic N,N-disubstituted arylamines,β-naphthols, 1,3 dicarbonyl, 1,3,5-trimethoxy benzene), alkyl nitriles, aryl/heteroaryl nitriles in catalytic TFA/TfOH through tandem Ritter reaction. The one-pot MCR with broad substrate scope generated a wide variety of sterically hindered N-substituted amides and is successfully applied for the synthesis of isoindolinone.     

Regioselective preparation of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles: a concise total synthesis of ningalin B

Methylisocyanoacetate undergoes a 2 + 3 cycloaddition with alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles to provide a regioselective synthesis of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles. The ease of preparation of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles allows the rapid synthesis of pyrroles with varied substituents. Using this method, a key intermediate (1) for the synthesis of the marine natural products lukianol A, lamellarin O, and lamellarin Q was prepared in two steps. A total synthesis of ningalin B (11) was also accomplished utilizing this methodology.     

Highly efficient synthesis of amides via Ritter chemistry with ionic liquids

The utility of Brønsted-acidic imidazolium ionic liquid [BMIM(SO₃H)][OTf] as catalyst for the high yield synthesis of a wide variety of amides under mild conditions via the Ritter reaction of alcohols with nitriles has been demonstrated. As alternative methods for the carbocation generation step, NOPF₆ immobilized in [BMIM][PF₆] ionic liquid was used in the Ritter reaction of bromides with nitriles and for the synthesis of adamantyl amides from adamantane and nitriles.     

Synthesis of nitriles from acetonitrile and methanol in the presence of oxide catalysts

The promoting effect of potassium included in Cr/MgO catalysts for the synthesis of nitriles from acetonitrile and methanol was found. The 5% Cr-0.5% K/MgO catalyst exhibited the highest activity in the synthesis of nitriles. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1540–1542, August, 1997.     

SYNTHIESIS OF THIOAMIDES FROM NITRILES AND HYDROGEN SULPHIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSTS

Abstract

The synthesis of thioamides⁽¹⁾ from nitriles generally involves base catalyzed reaction of nitriles with hydrogen sulphide in a polar organic solvent.     

Zinc Chloride–Catalyzed Expeditious Route to Nitriles

Zinc chloride has been found to be an excellent catalyst for a one-pot synthesis of nitriles from araldehydes and hydroxylammonium chloride under solvent-free conditions. The features of the present method are short reaction time, easy workup procedure, and good yields of the nitriles.     

Copper-catalyzed cyanation of aryl iodide with the combined cyanide source of urea and DMSO

A simple copper-catalyzed cyanation of aryl iodide with the combination of urea and dimethyl sulfoxide as a cyanide source is achieved, providing nitriles in moderate to good yields. This new approach represents an exceedingly practical and safe method for the synthesis of aryl nitriles.     

Copper-mediated cyanation of aryl halide with the combined cyanide source

A simple copper-mediated cyanation of aryl halide with the combination of ammonium bicarbonate and N,N-dimethylformamide as a cyanide source is achieved, providing nitriles in moderate to good yields. This new approach represents an exceedingly practical and safe method for the synthesis of aryl nitriles.     

P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: an efficient ligand for the direct alpha-arylation of nitriles with aryl bromides

A new catalyst system for the synthesis of alpha-aryl-substituted nitriles is reported. The bicyclic triaminophosphine P(i-BuNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1b) serves as an efficient and versatile ligand for the palladium-catalyzed direct alpha-arylation of nitriles with aryl bromides. Using ligand 1b, ethyl cyanoacetate and primary as well as secondary nitriles are efficiently coupled with a wide variety of aryl bromides possessing electron-rich, electron-poor, electron-neutral, and sterically hindered groups.     

Ultrasound-promoted synthesis of nitriles from aldoximes under ambient conditions

Copper(II) acetate proves to be an active catalyst for ultrasound-promoted conversion of aldoximes into nitriles. This dehydration reaction was carried out in acetonitrile under ambient conditions to provide nitriles with moderate tolerance toward water, which allows one-pot synthesis of a nitrile from an aldehyde with minimal purification.     

Reduction of unsaturated adamantyl-containing nitriles with lithium aluminum hydride in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran

Reduction of unsaturated adamantyl-containing nitriles with lithium aluminum hydride in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran was examined. It was found that under the synthesis conditions a simultaneous reduction of the double bond and the nitrile group successfully occurred. The presence of bulky substituents in the α-position to the adamantyl moiety of nitriles led to a significant increase in the synthesis duration. A satisfactory yield of the target compounds was achieved only by increasing the temperature and using a two-fold excess of lithium aluminum hydride.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines by SnCl4-Mediated [4+2] Cycloaddition between Donor–Acceptor Cyclobutanes and Nitriles

Cycloadditions of strained carbocycles promoted by Lewis acids are powerful methods to construct heterocyclic frameworks. In fact, the formal [3+2] cycloadditions of donor–acceptor (DA) cyclopropanes with nitriles has seen particular success in synthesis. In this work, we report on the first [4+2] cycloaddition of nitriles with DA cyclobutanes by Lewis acid activation. Tetrahydropyridine derivatives were obtained in up to 91 % yield from various aryl-activated cyclobutane diesters and aliphatic or aromatic nitriles.     

Continuous-flow synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes via Schmidt reaction

Using continuous-flow synthesis of nitriles by Schmidt reaction, a variety of aldehydes could be smoothly transformed into the desired nitriles in good to excellent yields. The mild reaction conditions and the flowing reaction system greatly improved the safety and make the reaction easy to scale up.     

2-Substituted nitrones and isomeric hydroxylamines - obtained via aluminium amalgam reduction of nitro nitriles and ketones—a new access to convenient intermediates for nitroso carbonyl compounds preparation

Substituted five-membered cyclic nitrones (pyrroline N-oxides) have been obtained in good to high yields from tertiary γ-nitro ketones and nitriles employing aluminium amalgam as a reducing agent in moist diethyl ether or THF. Attempts to obtain cyclic amino nitrones from α- or β-nitro nitriles failed and only the corresponding hydroxylamines have been isolated. Both nitrones and hydroxylamines have been used for synthesis of tertiary C-nitroso nitriles or ketones.