Efficient solvent-free selective monoalkylation of arylacetonitriles with mono-, bis-, and tris-primary alcohols catalyzed by a Cp*Ir complex.
Our objectives were to develop catalytic atom-economic processes accessing and/or incorporating versatile functionality using aryl/heteroaryl acetonitriles as substrates. We report essentially solvent-free [Cp*IrCl2]2 catalyzed redox neutral processes whereby substituted acetonitriles react with primary alcohols to deliver monosubstituted aryl/heteroaryl acetonitriles in excellent yield. We further demonstrate that such processes can be achieved by conventional or microwave heating and that bis- and tris-primary alcohols are also processed efficiently.
Löfberg
Christian
C
Molecular, Innovation, Diversity, and Automated Synthesis Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
Grigg
Ronald
R
Whittaker
Mark A
MA
Keep
Ann
A
Derrick
Andrew
A
D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000737:chemistry*
D000097:Acetonitriles