Electrophilic Cyanation of Boron Enolates: Efficient Access to Various β-Ketonitrile Derivatives

The highly efficient electrophilic cyanation of boron enolates using readily available cyanating reagents, N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (NCTS) and p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide (TsCN), is reported. Various b-ketonitriles were prepared by this new protocol, which has a remarkably broad substrate scope compared to existing methods. The present method also allowed efficient synthesis of b-ketonitriles containing a quaternary a-carbon center. In addition, a preliminary result with the use of a chiral boron enolate for the enantioselective cyanation reaction is described.