Ag-Catalyzed Cyanomethylation of Amines Using Nitromethane as a C1 Source

A new methodology to afford α-amino nitriles through oxidative cyanomethylation of amines using nitromethane as the methylene source in the presence of Me₃SiCN without the addition of an external oxidant was developed. A catalytic amount of AgCN and a stoichiometric amount of LiBF₄ cooperatively promoted the transformation. A wide variety of the amines, including both aromatic compounds and aliphatic ones, which are labile under oxidative conditions, were applicable to the reaction.