α‐Amino nitriles are versatile structural motifs in a variety of biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals and they serve as valuable building blocks in synthesis. The preparation of α‐ and β‐functionalized α‐amino nitriles from readily available scaffolds, however, remains challenging. Herein is reported a novel dual catalytic photoredox/copper‐catalyzed chemo‐ and regioselective radical carbocyanation of 2‐azadienes to access functionalized α‐amino nitriles by using redox‐active esters (RAEs) and trimethylsilyl cyanide. This cascade process employs a broad scope of RAEs and provides the corresponding α‐amino nitrile building blocks in 50–95 % yields (51 examples, regioselectivity >95 : 5). The products were transformed into prized α‐amino nitriles and α‐amino acids. Mechanistic studies suggest a radical cascade coupling process.
This content will become publicly available on March 10, 2024
α‐Amino nitriles are versatile structural motifs in a variety of biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals and they serve as valuable building blocks in synthesis. The preparation of α‐ and β‐functionalized α‐amino nitriles from readily available scaffolds, however, remains challenging. Herein is reported a novel dual catalytic photoredox/copper‐catalyzed chemo‐ and regioselective radical carbocyanation of 2‐azadienes to access functionalized α‐amino nitriles by using redox‐active esters (RAEs) and trimethylsilyl cyanide. This cascade process employs a broad scope of RAEs and provides the corresponding α‐amino nitrile building blocks in 50–95 % yields (51 examples, regioselectivity >95 : 5). The products were transformed into prized α‐amino nitriles and α‐amino acids. Mechanistic studies suggest a radical cascade coupling process.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2154593
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10408572
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Volume:
- 62
- Issue:
- 19
- ISSN:
- 1433-7851
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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