Synthesis of α-Amino Nitriles from Carbonyl Compounds, Amines, and Trimethylsilyl Cyanide: Comparison between Catalyst-Free Conditions and the Presence of Tin Ion-Exchanged Montmorillonite

In the absence of catalysts, the three-component, one-pot synthesis of alpha-amino nitriles proceeded using various aldehydes and ketones together with amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) in high yields under neat conditions at room temperature. The addition order of the reagents had a significant influence on the yields of the desired alpha-amino nitriles. In contrast, when tin ion-exchanged montmorillonite (Sn-Mont), prepared by the ion-exchange of sodium montmorillonite (Na-Mont) with a tin tetrachloride solution, was used as a catalyst, the reaction rates significantly increased compared with those without catalysts, and the range of the applicable carbonyl compounds was also extended: structurally diverse aromatic, aliphatic and heteroatom-containing carbonyl compounds, including sterically hindered ketones as well as aliphatic and aromatic amines, were converted into the desired alpha-amino nitriles in good to excellent yields with short reaction times under mild conditions. Sn-Mont showed a better catalytic activity than proton or other metal ion-exchanged montmorillonites, supported SnO2 catalysts and the previously reported homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. The recovered catalyst was reused several times without loss of catalytic performance. Along with the expansion of the interlayer space of Sn-Mont, the strong Bronsted acid and Lewis acid nature of Sn-Mont derived from protons and SnO2 nanoparticles present in the interlayers of Sn-Mont likely played important and cooperative roles in the high catalytic activity.