Simple Synthesis of 3-Oxopropanenitriles via Electrophilic Cyanoacetylation of Heterocycles with Mixed Anhydrides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/jhet.2511

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 3-oxopropanenitriles from variously substituted heterocyclic compounds via direct electrophilic cyanoacetylation is described. A series of heterocyclic 3-oxopropanenitriles (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j, 2k) have been synthesized using mixed anhydride (acetic or trifluoroacetic anhydride:cyanoacetic acid) in the presence of Mg(ClO₄)₂·2H₂O as catalyst. This method can be extended also for the cyanoacetylation of electron poor aromatic compounds.