Reductive desulfurization of 3-cyano-2-methylthiopyridines under the action of Raney nickel

The action of Raney nickel on substituted 3-cyano-2-methylthiopyridines was studied. Under conditions of catalytic hydrogenation, the reaction yields a mixture containing the aminosulfide resulting from reduction of the nitrile group with retention of the methylthio group, the nitrile resulting from elimination of the methylthio group, and the amine resulting from both reduction of the nitrile group and elimination of the methylthio group. Treatment of 3-cyano-2-methylthiopyridines with a large amount of Raney nickel under desulfurization conditions induces simultaneous elimination of the methylthio group and reduction of the nitrile group to the aminomethyl group. When reductive desulfurization is carried out in methanol or THF, primary amines are formed, while the reactions in isopropyl or ethyl alcohol give secondary or tertiary amines, which are formed upon alkylation of the amino group with alcohols. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2497–2500, November, 2005.