One-pot synthesis of α-aminonitriles using a highly efficient and recyclable silica-based scandium (III) interphase catalyst

Both aryl and alkyl imines, which formed in situ from aldehydes and amines undergo smooth nucleophilic addition with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a silica-based scandium (III) interphase catalyst under mild reaction condition to furnish the corresponding α-aminonitriles in good to excellent yields. The catalyst shows high thermal stability (up to 300 °C) and it could also be recovered and reused for at least 6 reaction cycles without considerable lose of its reactivity.

Graphical abstractBoth aryl and alkyl imines, which formed in situ from aldehydes and amines undergo smooth nucleophilic addition with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a recyclable silica-based scandium (III) interphase catalyst under mild reaction condition to furnish the corresponding α-aminonitriles in good to excellent yields.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide