Reaction of acyl cyanides with Grignard reagents

RF Borch, SR Levitan…

Index: Borch,R.F. et al. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1972 , vol. 37, p. 726 - 729

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Citation Number: 13

Abstract

The reaction of benzoyl cyanide (1) with Grignard reagents occurs via addition to the carbonyl group to give the corresponding phenyl ketones 2 in good yield. Acetyl cyanide (3), however, reacts with aliphatic Grignard reagents predominantly by reduction of the carbonyl group and subsequent acylation by 3 to give cyano ester 5. Carbonyl cyanide (6) is attacked by isopropylmagnesium bromide at carbonyl to give isobutyryl cyanide, which is further ...