An effective new access to ethyl 2-[(alkylamino)(cyano)methyl] acrylates: first synthesis of ethyl 3-cyano-2-(hydroxymethyl) acrylate

A regioselective coupling of ethyl 2-(bromomethyl)-3-cyanoacrylate and primary amines is described to give ethyl 2-[(alkylamino)(cyano)methyl] acrylates in good yields. Whereas the conversion of allyl bromide in the presence of TEAF leads to the first synthesis of ethyl 3-cyano-2-(hydroxymethyl) acrylate.