Product-Catalyzed Addition of Alkyl Nitriles to Unactivated Imines Promoted by Sodium Aryloxide/Ethyl(trimethylsilyl)acetate (ETSA) Combination

International audienceThe first transition-metal-free addition of alkyl nitriles to unactivated imines was developed using a catalytic combination of 4-MeOC6H4ONa and TMSCH2CO2Et to promote the reaction. The corresponding β-amino nitriles are obtained in good to almost quantitative isolated yields under mild conditions. A mechanism involving an autocatalytic pathway is proposed on the basis of experimental observations