A method for cyanation reaction of ketones and ketimines having lower reactivity than
aldehydes and aldimines with TMSCN in the presence of N-heterocyclic carbene prepared
from 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride and potassium tert-butoxide, as a nucleophilic organocatalyst, is described. These cyanations of ketones
and ketimines afford the corresponding products in good yields under mild reaction
conditions.
N-heterocyclic carbene - tetrasubstituted carbon - nucleophilic organocatalyst - cyanation
- trimethylsilyl cyanide