Pure and Applied Chemistry · 2006 · 31 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesChemistryCatalysisOrganic ChemistryOrganometallic ChemistryCatalytic MechanismsHeterocyclic ChemistryOrganic SynthesisCatalytic Reaction MechanismsCyanohydrin FormationEnantioselective CatalysisEnantioselective SynthesisLewis Acid CatalysisLewis Acid-base TheoryLewis AcidityTransition-metal-catalyzed Functionalization
Abstract Reaction of benzaldehyde with ethyl cyanoformate in the presence of Lewis acidic Ti(IV) complexes of bispyridylamide or salen ligands and Lewis basic amines affords the O -alkoxycarbonylated cyanohydrin. In the presence of the salen-based catalytic system, acetyl cyanide can also be added to benzaldehyde, providing a highly enantioselective direct route to the O -acetylated cyanohydrin.