Cyanoacetic Acid as a Masked Electrophile: Transition‐Metal‐Free Cyanomethylation of Amines and Carboxylic Acids

Abstract Using cyanoacetic acid as a masked electrophile, a new cyanomethylation reaction of amines and carboxylic acids was developed, producing a variety of α ‐aminonitriles and cyanomethyl esters with good yields and excellent functionality tolerance. This protocol features simple manipulation, inexpensive reagents, and a wide substrate scope. Iodoacetonitrile was generated in situ from the iodination–decarboxylation of cyanoacetic acid in this transformation.