Synthesis 2004(14): 2266-2272  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-831167
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Highly Efficient Double-Activation Catalysts for the Synthesis of Ketone Cyanohydrins

Fu-Xue Chena, Xiaohua Liua, Bo Qina, Hui Zhoua, Xiaoming Feng*a, Guolin Zhangb
a Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry & Technology (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
Fax: +86(28)85418249; e-Mail: xmfeng@scu.edu.cn;
b Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

Received 30 April 2004
Publication Date:
13 August 2004 (online)

Abstract

Tertiary cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers were synthesized in excellent chemical yields by using salen-Al complex (0.25 mol%) and N-oxide (0.5 mol%) without solvent at ambient temperature. The relationship between the ligand structure and catalyst efficiency is discussed. Preliminary mechanistic studies were carried out, and transition states were proposed accounting for the action of the double-activation catalysts.

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Compound 5a has been obtained in 94% ee using chiral salen-Al complex, which will be described in another paper.