Mild and efficient trimethylsilylcyanation of ketones catalysed by PNP chloride

Abstract

Mild & green: The commercially and readily available PNPCl behaves as a very effective catalyst for the synthesis of various trimethylsilyl cyanohydrins from a wide range of aliphatic, cyclic, α,β-unsaturated and aromatic ketones. The method proceeds at room temperature in solvent-free conditions, in the presence of very small amounts of catalyst (see scheme). Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.