Direct transformation of methyl imines to α-iminonitriles under mild and transition-metal-free conditions

Cu(I)-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of Amines, Alkynes, and Ketenes: An Umpolung and Regioselective Approach to Full-Substituted β-Pyrrolinones

Described here is a Cu-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] modular synthesis of full-substituted β-pyrrolinones from simple amines, alkynes, and α-diazo-β-ketoesters. This approach involving the regioselective C-nucleophilic attack of enamines, uncommon C-nucleophilic addition to ketenes, and umpolung of imines enables the direct synthesis of full-substituted β-pyrrolinones, which were hardly constructed by traditional synthetic strategies.

Cellulose-Supported Sulfonated Magnetic Nanoparticles: Utilized for One-pot Synthesis of α-Iminonitrile Derivatives

ntroduction: An instrumental strategy for α-iminonitrile derivatives preparation by Fe3O4@cellulose-OSO3H (MCSA) as an eco-friendly nanocatalyst and oxidative agent in aerobic condition, is presented.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Through this method, a one-pot three-component condensation reaction of various aldehydes, primary amines and trimethylsilylcyanide (TMSCN) were applied to synthesize the desired products. It was performed in absolute ethanol and under a mild condition by using the presented nanocatalyst. High reaction yields were obtained through using the presented magnetic agent, as well. Moreover, the threecomponent reactions were executed using accessible and economical precursors. The convenient separation and recyclability of the used nanocatalyst were also precisely investigated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this research, we identified novel α-iminonitrile derivatives using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, CHN, and FT-IR analyses, as well. In order to determine the well-known derivatives, we used FT-IR method as well as comparing their melting points with those of reported.

CONCLUSION

In summary, an extremely efficient method was used for the environmentally-friendly synthesis of α-iminonitrile derivatives that are important bioactive substances. The catalytic oxidative coupling reaction afforded the products via a one-pot three-component condensation reaction of various aldehydes, primary amines and TMSCN with great reaction yields, in ethanol under mild conditions.

A facile tandem decyanation/cyanation reaction of α-iminonitriles toward cyano-substituted amides

A new tandem decyanation/cyanation reaction of α-iminonitriles has been developed. A variety of cyano-substituted aryl amides and heteroaryl amides are synthesized in good yields. Both electron-rich and electron-deficient groups are compatible with the standard conditions. This reaction features a nonmetallic cyano source, tandem decyanation and cyanation reaction, waste utilization of the HCN from the hydrolysis of α-iminonitriles, formation of two important functional groups in one-step operation, etc.

Cyanide-Free Ce(III)-Catalyzed Highly Efficient Synthesis of α-Iminonitriles from 2-Aminopyridines and Nitroalkenes via Intermolecular Dehydration Reaction

A direct and rapid method for the synthesis of α-iminonitriles achieved good to excellent yields. A novel intermolecular dehydration reaction between 2-aminopyridines and nitroalkenes is reported via a rare-earth-metal catalyst. The merits of this transformation include cyanide-free protocol, short reaction time, simple operation, water as the only byproduct, commercially available reagents, good functional group tolerance, etc. Moreover, nitroalkenes are demonstrated as a new "CN" source in this transformation.

DBU-mediated metal-free oxidative cyanation of α-amino carbonyl compounds: using molecular oxygen as the oxidant

A novel DBU-mediated oxidative cyanation of α-amino carbonyl compounds by using air as the sole oxidant was developed under mild metal-free conditions for the first time. The reaction involves a tandem oxidation/Strecker reaction/oxidation process and provides a new and efficient method for the construction of α-iminonitriles in good to high yields in a single step.

An efficient transformation of primary halides into nitriles through palladium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer reaction

Two-step one-pot transformation of primary halides into the corresponding nitriles is successfully achieved under mild conditions. In this protocol, acetone functions as both a solvent and a hydrogen acceptor.

Cu- or Fe-catalyzed C–H/C–C bond nitrogenation reactions for the direct synthesis of N-containing compounds

This tutorial account summarizes the recent progress in Cu- or Fe-catalyzed C–H/C–C bond nitrogenation reactions for the direct synthesis of N-containing compounds.

Direct approaches to nitriles via highly efficient nitrogenation strategy through C-H or C-C bond cleavage

Because of the importance of nitrogen-containing compounds in chemistry and biology, organic chemists have long focused on the development of novel methodologies for their synthesis. For example, nitrogen-containing compounds show up within functional materials, as top-selling drugs, and as bioactive molecules. To synthesize these compounds in a green and sustainable way, researchers have focused on the direct functionalization of hydrocarbons via C-H or C-C bond cleavage. Although researchers have made significant progress in the direct functionalization of simple hydrocarbons, direct C-N bond formation via C-H or C-C bond cleavage remains challenging, in part because of the unstable character of some N-nucleophiles under oxidative conditions. The nitriles are versatile building blocks and precursors in organic synthesis. Recently, chemists have achieved the direct C-H cyanation with toxic cyanide salts in the presence of stoichiometric metal oxidants. In this Account, we describe recent progress made by our group in nitrile synthesis. C-H or C-C bond cleavage is a key process in our strategy, and azides or DMF serve as the nitrogen source. In these reactions, we successfully realized direct nitrile synthesis using a variety of hydrocarbon groups as nitrile precursors, including methyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups. We could carry out C(sp(3))-H functionalization on benzylic, allylic, and propargylic C-H bonds to produce diverse valuable synthetic nitriles. Mild oxidation of C═C double-bonds and C≡C triple-bonds also produced nitriles. The incorporation of nitrogen within the carbon skeleton typically involved the participation of azide reagents. Although some mechanistic details remain unclear, studies of these nitrogenation reactions implicate the involvement of a cation or radical intermediate, and an oxidative rearrangement of azide intermediate produced the nitrile. We also explored environmentally friendly oxidants, such as molecular oxygen, to make our synthetic strategy more attractive. Our direct nitrile synthesis methodologies have potential applications in the synthesis of biologically active molecules and drug candidates.

Chopping unfunctionalized carbon–carbon bonds: a new paradigm for the synthesis of organonitriles

Chopping of carbon–carbon bonds was very recently shown to be an efficient new strategy for the synthesis of organonitriles, as developed in this Highlight.