Nucleophilic Acylation with Aromatic Aldehydes to 2 Bromoacetonitrile: An Umpolung Strategy for the Synthesis of Active Methylene Compounds

Background: A novel one-pot N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed acylation of 2- bromoacetonitrile with aromatic aldehydes is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of aldehydes in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically (as d1 nucleophile) on the electrophilic terminal of 2-bromoacetonitrile to afford 3-aryl-3-oxopropanenitrile. The salient features of this procedure are short reaction time, operational simplicity, ambient temperature, no by-product formation and high yields. Materials and Methods: A flame-dried round bottom flask was charged with Imidazolium salts (3a) (0.20 mmol). Aldehyde 1a (1.0 mmol), 2-bromoacetonitrile 2 (1.0 mmol), and THF / t-BuOH 5 mL; 10:1) were added at positive nitrogen pressure followed by the addition of DBU (0.15 mmol) through stirring. The resulting yellow- orange solution was stirred at room temperature for 5-6 h. After completion of the reaction (TLC monitored), the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The product was purified using hexane / EtOAc (10:1) as an eluent to provide analytically pure compound 4a. Physical data of representative compounds and the NMR spectroscopic data are in agreement with the literature value. Results and Discussion: The salient features of this procedure are short reaction time, operational simplicity, ambient temperature, no by-product formation and high yields. Conclusion: To sum up, we have developed a convenient, efficient and one-pot route for 3-oxo-3- phenylpropanenitrile synthesis from NHC promoted direct nucleophilic acylation of aromatic aldehydes using 2- bromoacetonitrile. This method provided a wide range of products and good yields. To best of our knowledge, this is the new report for the synthesis of 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitrile through NHC promoted nucleophilic acylation of aromatic aldehyde.

Recyclable polyetheretherketone fiber-supported N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts for nucleophilic acylation of fluorobenzenes

A novel support of polyetheretherketone fiber for recyclable N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts in nucleophilic acylation of fluorobenzenes.

Electrophilic Activation of Carboxylic Anhydrides for Nucleophilic Acylation Reactions

Nucleophilic acylation of symmetrical carboxylic anhydrides has inherited limitation of reaction efficiency along with relatively poor reactivity. Traditionally, one equivalent carboxylic acid is generated during nucleophilic acylation of a symmetrical anhydride, which always limits the yield of final product to 50% or less. This is a major drawback, which discourages the use of anhydrides for laboratory or industrial applications. Electrophilic activation of carboxylic anhydride using methanesulfonyl chloride is found to be an efficient method for nucleophilic acylation, which increases product yield by restricting the formation of corresponding acid as a side product. The developed protocol found to be a mild and high yielding methodology for one-pot nucleophilic acylation of carboxylic anhydrides with several type of N- and S-nucleophiles demonstrating appreciable functional group tolerance.