Nickel-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Arylacetonitriles with Challenging Secondary Alcohols
Ratnakar Saha, Surajit Panda, Amareshwar Nanda, Bidraha Bagh
Abstract
Nickel(II) complex 1 was utilized as a sustainable catalyst for α-alkylation of arylacetonitriles with challenging secondary alcohols. Arylacetonitriles with a wide range of functional groups were tolerated, and various cyclic and acyclic secondary alcohols were utilized to yield a large number of α-alkylated products. The plausible mechanism involves the base-promoted activation of precatalyst 1 to an active catalyst 2 (dehydrochlorinated product) which activates the O–H and C–H bonds of the secondary alcohol in a dehydrogenative pathway.
Topics & Concepts
AlkylationCatalysisYield (engineering)ChemistryNickelAlcoholOrganic chemistryMaterials scienceMetallurgyAsymmetric Hydrogenation and CatalysisCatalytic C–H Functionalization MethodsCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysis