Reactions of chiral β-ketosulfoxides with Et2AlCN: Asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrin derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79720-6

The reaction of chiral p-tolylsulfinylmethyl ketones (R-CO-CH₂-SOTol, R=Ph, Et and t-Bu) with Et₂AlCN, yields almost optically pure sulfinyl cyanohydrins (d.e. ≥ 96%). The reaction was quicker in the presence of ZnCl₂, but