A Robust Nickel Catalyst for Cyanomethylation of Aldehydes: Activation of Acetonitrile under Base-Free Conditions

A Robust Nickel Catalyst for Cyanomethylation of Aldehydes: Activation of Acetonitrile under Base-Free Conditions:

Nick of time: The nickel cyanomethyl complex 1 catalyzes the room temperature coupling of aldehydes with acetonitrile under base-free conditions. The catalytic system is long-lived and remarkably efficient with high turnover numbers (TONs) and turnover frequencies (TOFs) achieved. The mild reaction conditions allow a wide variety of aldehydes, including base-sensitive ones, to catalytically react with acetonitrile.