A tricyclic aluminum alkoxide catalyst for aldehyde trimethylsilylcyanation

Trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes is efficiently accomplished with a low concentration of catalyst 1 under mild conditions in acetonitrile. This protocol tolerates a variety of electron-rich, neutral, and deficient aryl, heterocyclic, and alkyl aldehydes. At the end of the reaction, catalyst 1 precipitates from solution, allowing it to be recycled three times.

Dimeric alumatrane 1 efficiently catalyzes this reaction at low concentrations (generally 0.5 mol %).