Intramolecular carbocyanation reaction of alkenes has emerged as a powerful tool for preparing functionalized nitriles. In contrast to transition-metal-catalyzed processes, we have recently developed a metal-free carbocyanation (alkenylcyanation and acylcyanation) approach to construct functionalized nitriles incorporating a quaternary carbon center. This article summarizes our recent exploratory studies in this field.
Key words
catalysis - carbocyanation - metal-free reaction - nitriles - asymmetric synthesis