Mechanochemical Strecker Reaction: Access to -Aminonitriles and Tetrahydroisoquinolines under Ball-Milling Conditions

A mechanochemical version of the Strecker reaction for the synthesis of -aminonitriles was developed. The milling of aldehydes, amines, and potassium cyanide in the presence of SiO2 gave the corresponding -aminonitriles in good to high yields. The high efficiency of the mechanochemical Strecker-type multicomponent reaction allowed the one-pot synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines after a subsequent internal N-alkylation reaction.