Copper(I)-induced addition of amines to unactivated nitriles: The first general one-step synthesis of alkyl amidines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(93)85054-Z

Cu(I)Cl promotes the condensation of acetonitrile 1a and benzonitrile 1b with primary and secondary amines 2a-g into amidines 3a-j under mild conditions, in high to quantitative yields. Stoichiometric formation of Cu(I)-amidines complexes allows to control the degree of substitution of resulting amidines.