Asymmetric cyanation of activated olefins with ethyl cyanoformate catalyzed by a modular titanium catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ol100169r

"Chemical Equation Presented" Asymmetric cyanation of a class of easily available olefins with a favorable cyanide source ethyl cyanoformate (CNCOOEt) was realized by an interesting modular catalyst. High yields and ee values were obtained for a range of substrates under solvent-free and mild reaction conditions. The products obtained could be easily transformed to the enantioenriched useful intermediates 5,6, and pharmaceutically Important γ-aminobutyric acid 7.