First observation of a C–CN bond cleavage during the reduction of a nitrile with LiAlH4: a S.E.T. Reaction?
Abstract
LiAlH4 reduction of 5-cyano-5-isopropylsulphonylnorborn-2-ene 1 gave the reduced product 2 resulting from the first reported LiAlH4-induced C–CN bond cleavage. Preliminary observations suggest that the first step involves a S.E.T. (Single Electron Transfer).