Enantioselective Pd-Catalyzed α-Amination of α-Cyanoketones

Significance

The efficient palladium-catalyzed asymmetric α-amination of α-cyanoketones with azodicarboxylates is reported. Among the different known methodologies for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles, such as the Strecker reaction, the asymmetric electrophilic amination of α-substituted nitriles, and the direct amination of active ­methyne compounds, this protocol represents a simple and efficient alternative. The Pd complexes are air- and moisture-stable, and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions to afford the corresponding α-amino α-cyanoketones in excellent yield and enantioselectivity.