ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Eco-friendly conjugate hydrocyanation of α-cyanoacrylates using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as cyanating reagent

Yu-Peng Zhang, Xiao-Chun Hu, and Zheng Li

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China

E-mail: lizheng@nwnu.edu.cn

Abstract: The conjugate hydrocyanation of α-cyanoacrylates through chemoselective 1,4-addition to synthesise α,β-dicyanopropanoates by one-pot two-step procedure using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as an eco-friendly cyanide source, benzoyl chloride as a promoter and potassium carbonate as a catalyst is described. The advantages of this protocol are use of a non-toxic, non-volatile and inexpensive cyanating reagent, high product yields and simple working procedure

Keywords: conjugate hydrocyanation – α-cyanoacrylate – “green chemistry” – potassium hexacyanoferrate( II)

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1515/chempap-2015-0055

Chemical Papers 69 (4) 596–603 (2015)