Access to 1,3-Dinitriles by Enantioselective Auto-tandem Catalysis: Merging Allylic Cyanation with Asymmetric Hydrocyanation

Abstract

Enantioselective auto-tandem catalysis represents a challenging yet highlight attractive topic in the field of asymmetric catalysis. In this context, we describe a dual catalytic cycle that merges allylic cyanation and asymmetric hydrocyanation. The one-pot conversion of a broad array of allylic alcohols into their corresponding 1,3-dinitriles proceeds in good yield with high enantioselectivity. The products are densely functionalized and can be easily transformed to chiral diamines, dinitriles, diesters, and piperidines. Mechanistic studies clearly support a novel sequential cyanation/hydrocyanation pathway.

Keywords: allylic alcohols; asymmetric hydrocyanation; auto-tandem catalysis; chiral dinitriles; cyanation.