Transition-metal-catalyst-free reaction of amides and acetonitriles: synthesis of β-ketonitriles

Abstract

Amides react with acetonitrile in the presence of LiHMDS to produce the corresponding β-ketonitriles in good yields. Both activated and unactivated amides show good activity at room temperature in the absence of transition metal catalysts. A wide variety of functional groups was tolerated, including both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, and the desired β-ketonitriles were obtained in good-to-excellent yields.