Abstract
Efficient synthesis of monosubstituted malononitriles was achieved by one-pot reductive alkylation of malononitrile with carbonyl compounds via [Cp*RhCl2]2-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation reaction.
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Notes
a Reaction conditions: 0.5 mmol benzaldehyde, 0.5 mmol malononitrile, metal complex (0.5 mol%), 1.5 mL solvent, and 0.2 mL HCOOH–Et3N (5:2) at 40 °C for 1 h.
b Isolated yield.
c Benzylidenemalononitrile was isolated in 82% yield.
d Benzylidenemalononitrile also isolated (58%).
e Benzylidenemalononitrile also isolated (32%).
f Benzylidenemalononitrile also isolated (62%).
g With neat formic acid–triethylamine azeotropic mixture (0.5 mL).
a Reaction condition: 0.5 mmol aldehyde/ketone, 0.5 mmol malononitrile, [Cp*RhCl2]2 (0.5 mol%), 1.5 mL CH2Cl2, and 0.2 mL HCOOH–Et3N (5:2) at 40 °C.
b Isolated yield.
c 1.2 equiv. of aldehyde was used due to evaporation.
d 1.2 equiv. of ketone was used due to evaporation.