Strecker Synthesis of α-aminonitriles Facilitated by N-methyl Imidazolium Acetate

N-Methyl imidazolium acetate [HMIm]OAc was simply prepared through reaction of N-methyl imidazole with acetic acid and it was applied as a media and promoter for Strecker synthesis of α-aminonitriles. The three component reaction of a variety of structurally different aldehydes and amines with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) in the presence of [HMIm]OAc were evaluated. Reaction of aromatic aldehydes and cinnamaldehyde with either aromatic and aliphatic amines provided the corresponding α-aminonitriles in high to excellent isolated yields after short period of time at room temperature.