Gallium (<scp>iii</scp>)-catalysed bromocyanation of alkynes: regio- and stereoselective synthesis of β-bromo-α,β-unsaturated nitriles

Abstract

Treatment of arylacetylenes and cyanogen bromide in ClCH(2)CH(2)Cl with a catalytic amount of GaCl(3) afforded (Z)-β-bromoacrylonitriles with high regio- and stereoselectivity.