A nickel-catalyzed base-promoted rearrangement of cyclobutanone oxime esters to cyclopropanecarbonitriles was developed. The ring opening of cyclobutanone oxime esters occurs at the sterically less hindered side. A base-promoted nickelacyclobutane intermediate, formed in situ, is assumed to be involved in the formation of the product.
Key words
nickel catalysis - cyclobutanone oxime esters - cyclopropanecarbonitriles - ring opening - Favorskii rearrangement