Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of Arylacetonitriles from Arylzinc Chlorides and Bromoacetonitrile

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1987-27834

Arylacetonitriles are synthesised by coupling arylzinc chlorides with bromoacetonitrile using Ni(acac)2/P(c-C6H11)(C6H5)2 as catalyst.The arylacetonitriles are reduced in situ with LiAlH4/AlCl3 to give the corresponding 2-aryl-1-aminoethanes.