An efficient synthesis of cyanoarenes and cyanoheteroarenes via lithiation followed by electrophilic cyanation

A one-pot procedure for the conversion of mono-substituted arenes and heteroarenes into the ortho-cyano derivatives was achieved through directed lithiation followed by electrophilic cyanation with phenyl cyanate. This reaction method proved to be applicable to halogen-lithium exchanged intermediates, so especially useful for the synthesis of benzonitriles. The scope of the reaction sequence was explored using a number of substrates.     

Oxovanadium(V)-catalyzed enantioselective Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley cyanation of aldehydes using acetone cyanohydrin

Oxovanadium(V)(salen) complex 4 was found to catalyze Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley cyanation of aliphatic aldehydes with good to high enantioselectivity. This cyanation showed a positive nonlinear effect.     

Catalytic Sandmeyer cyanation as a synthetic pathway to aryl nitriles

Aryl nitriles ArCN were obtained by the Cu(I)/Cu(II) catalysed reaction of aryl diazonium salts with KCN in good yields.     

EFFICIENT CONVERSION OF TETRAHYDROPYRANYL (THP) ETHERS TO THEIR CORRESPONDING CYANIDES WITH TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINE/2,3-DICHLORO- 5,6-DICYANOBENZOQUINONE/n-Bu4 NCN

Tetrahydropyranyl ethers were converted to their corresponding alkyl cyanides efficiently by using the triphenylphosphine/ 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenoquinone/n-Bu ₄ NCN system in refluxing acetonitrile with good-to-excellent yields.     

Copper-and Silver-Mediated Cyanation of Aryl Iodides Using DDQ as Cyanide Source

A new copper and silver‐mediated cyanation of aryl iodides with DDQ as a cyanide source is achieved, providing nitriles with good yields. This new approach represents a safe method leading to aryl nitriles.     

One-Pot New Synthetic Method for 3-Amino-2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile

A new method for the preparation of 3-amino-2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile ( 1 ) was studied. A successful condensation reaction between bromomalononitrile and o-phenylenediamine in the presence of Lewis acid catalyst (AlCl₃) was achieved to produce compound 1 .     

An Improved Asymmetric Synthesis of Unusual Amino Acid (2S,3S)‐3‐Hydroxyproline

Abstract

An improved three‐steps method for the conversion of N‐benzyl (S)‐3‐hydroxypyrrolidin‐2‐one 6 to (2S,3S)‐3‐hydroxyproline 1 is reported. The key step is the reductive cyanation of 6. The synthesis of 1 constitutes a formal asymmetric synthesis of (2S,3S)‐3‐hydroxyproline betaines 2.     

Development and Molecular Understanding of a Pd-Catalyzed Cyanation of Aryl Boronic Acids Enabled by High-Throughput Experimentation and Data Analysis

A synthetic method for the palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl boronic acids using bench stable and non-toxic N-cyanosuccinimide has been developed. High-throughput experimentation facilitated the screen of 90 different ligands and the resultant statistical data analysis identified that ligand σ-donation, π-acidity and sterics are key drivers that govern yield. Categorization into three ligand groups – monophosphines, bisphosphines and miscellaneous – was performed before the analysis. For the monophosphines, the yield of the reaction increases for strong σ-donating, weak π-accepting ligands, with flexible pendant substituents. For the bisphosphines, the yield predominantly correlates with ligand lability. The applicability of the designed reaction to a wider substrate scope was investigated, showing good functional group tolerance in particular with boronic acids bearing electron-withdrawing substituents. This work outlines the development of a novel reaction, coupled with a fast and efficient workflow to gain understanding of the optimal ligand properties for the design of improved palladium cross-coupling catalysts.     

Magnesium Complexes as Highly Effective Catalysts for Conjugate Cyanation of α,β‐Unsaturated Amides and Ketones

Asymmetric cyanation of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) with α,β‐unsaturated amides and ketones, respectively, catalyzed by bifunctional mononuclear 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL)–Mg and binuclear bis(prophenol)–Mg catalysts was realized. A series of synthetically important 1,4‐cyano products were obtained with good to high enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee).