SHORTPAPER	Synthesis 2006: 1937-1939   DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-942376
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Strecker Reaction of Aldimines Catalyzed by a Nucleophilic N-Heterocyclic Carbene
Yoshimasa Fukuda, Yuka Maeda, Kazuhiro Kondo*, Toyohiko Aoyama*
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan Fax: +81(52)8363439; e-Mail: kazuk@phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp; e-Mail: aoyama@phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp;
Received 15 December 2005

Abstract

The first method for Strecker reaction (cyanation of imines) of aldimines with TMSCN in the presence of N-heterocyclic carbene prepared from 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride and t-BuOK, as a nucleophilic catalyst, is described.

Key words

Strecker reaction - aldimine - N-heterocyclic carbene - imidazolium salt - cyanation