Hydrocyanation of Unsaturated Imines Using Potassium Hexacyanoferrate(II) as a Cyanide Source

An efficient method for the hydrocyanation of unsaturated imines to synthesize beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-aminonitriles by a one-pot two-step procedure using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a cyanide source and benzoyl chloride as a promoter under catalyst-free condition is described. The advantages of this protocol are the use of a nontoxic, nonvolatile and inexpensive cyanating agent, no use of transition metal catalysts, high yield and simple work-up procedure.