Copper(I)-induced addition of amines to unactivated nitriles: The first general one-step synthesis of alkyl amidines.

Cu(I)Cl promotes the condensation of acetonitrile1a and benzonitrile1b with primary and secondary amines2a-g into amidines3a-j under mild conditions, in high to quantitative yields. Stoichiometric formation of Cu(I)-amidines complexes allows to control the degree of substitution of resulting amidines.