Cooperative Catalysis of a Cationic Ruthenium Complex, Amine Base, and Na Salt: Catalytic Activation of Acetonitrile as a Nucleophile

Naoya Kumagai, Shigeki Matsunaga and Masakatsu Shibasaki*

*Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, Email: mshibasamol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp

N. Kumagai, S. Matsunaga, M. Shibasaki, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 13632-13633.

DOI: 10.1021/ja0450509

---

Abstract

Cooperative catalysis of a cationic Ru complex, DBU, and NaPF₆ enabled activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile under mild basic conditions. The nucleophilic 1,2-addition of in situ-generated, Ru-bound, metalated nitrile to aldehydes and imines proceeded smoothly.

see article for more examples

---

---

Key Words

β-Cyanohydrins, β-Aminonitriles

---

ID: J48-Y2004-1800