Ni-catalyzed reductive cyanation of alkenyl tosylates and triflates

Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 Dec 13. doi: 10.1039/d4cc04972a. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Herein, we disclose the nickel-catalyzed reductive cyanation of alkenyl tosylates and triflates. Both cyclic and acyclic alkenyl nitriles are produced in moderate to good yield using 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (MeO-MPMN), a novel transnitrilation, or nitrile transfer, reagent. A robustness screen was undertaken to demonstrate the functional group tolerance of this method.