Xanthan sulfuric acid: A new and efficient bio-supported solid acid catalyst for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles by condensation of carbonyl compounds, amines, and trimethylsilylcyanide

In this work, α-amino nitriles are synthesized by a three-component one-pot condensation reaction of aldehydes or ketones, amines and trimethylsilylcyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of xanthan sulfuric acid as a new bio-supported catalyst, in excellent yields with short reaction times at ambient temperature. The xanthan as the base of the catalyst was produced biologically from a native strain, i.e. xanthomonas campestris strain b82. The reaction procedure is simple and the catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused in subsequent reactions.