Ni-Catalyzed hydrocyanation of alkenes with formamide as the cyano source

Abstract

“CN” generation from formamide dehydration! A novel Ni-catalyzed hydrocyanation of various alkenes to provide aliphatic nitriles is developed by generating hydrocyanic acid in situ from safe and readily available formamide. Excellent linear or branched regio-selectivity, wide substrate scope, cheap and stable nickel salt as a pre-catalyst, a safe cyano source, slow generation of “CN” to obviate catalyst deactivation and convenient experimental operation would render this hydrocyanation attactive for laboratory synthesis of aliphatic nitriles.