Solvent-free synthesis of racemic α-aminonitriles

A very simple one-step, environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles from aldehydes and ketones, using trimethylsilyl cyanide in the absence of solvent, is reported. The active catalyst of this three-component (Strecker) reaction was the amine employed in the transformation. In general, aldehydes react more rapidly than ketones and give almost quantitative yields of the corresponding α-aminonitriles in less than fifteen minutes. However, only cyclic ketones afford the corresponding α-aminonitriles in excellent chemical yields under these conditions.This work has been supported by the DGES of the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (MEC) (CTQ 2004-00808/BQU) and Generalitat Valenciana (CTIOIB/2002/320 and GRUPOS03/134 and GV05/144) and by the University of Alicante