High pressure mediated three component Strecker synthesis of α-aminonitriles from ketones, aromatic amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide

High pressure (600 MPa) reaction conditions, in the absence of a catalyst, have proved to be a powerful way to stimulate the three component Strecker reaction synthesis of alpha-aminonitriles in high yields. Examples of two types of double Strecker reactions were also described. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.