Trimethylsilyl cyanide addition to aldimines and its application in the synthesis of (S)-phenylglycine methyl ester

The addition of TMSCN to a variety of arylaldimines (Strecker reaction) in the presence of LiClO4 or BF3.Et2O in acetonitrile has been studied. The reaction provided the addition products in very high yields. The method has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of (S)-phenylglycine methyl ester. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.