Development of a New α‐Aminonitrile Synthesis

Abstract

α‐Aminonitriles are prepared upon reaction of aryl carboxaldehydes with LiHMDS and acetone cyanohydrin. This new method provides a general route to the synthesis of various substituted α‐amino‐arylacetonitriles in high yield and purity, and avoids the use of the highly toxic cyanide salts.

Keywords:

• α‐Aminonitriles
• α‐Amino‐arylacetonitriles
• Strecker synthesis
• N‐Trimethylsilylimines