Synthesis 2005(16): 2787-2797  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872096
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Cyanohydrin Derivatives Catalysed by Triethylamine

Alejandro Baeza, Carmen Nájera*, Mª de Gracia Retamosa, José M. Sansano
Departamento de Química Orgánica and Instituto de Síntesis Orgánica (ISO), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, Apdo. 99, 03080-Alicante, Spain
Fax: +34(96)5903549; e-Mail: cnajera@ua.es;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 June 2005
Publication Date:
22 July 2005 (online)

Abstract

A very simple one-step environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of O-substituted cyanohydrins from aldehydes and ketones, in the absence of solvent, employing minimum amounts of the corresponding cyanides has been optimised. Aldehydes react more rapidly than ketones using triethylamine as catalyst offering in both cases almost quantitative yields of the corresponding O-trimethylsilyl, O-methoxycarbonyl, O-benzoyl and O-acetyl cyanohydrins.