Nano cobalt-copper ferrite catalyzed regioselective α-C(sp3)–H cyanation of amines: Secondary, tertiary, and drug molecules

Abstract

Oxidative cyanation of sp3C–H bonds at the α position of amines was achieved using CoCuFe2O4 as a catalyst and NaCN as an inexpensive cyanide source at room temperature.CoCuFe2O4 was found to be an active catalyst for Csp [3]-Csp coupling, efficiently delivering valuable α-aminonitriles from tertiary/secondary amines in good yields. The corresponding products were obtained with high selectivity toward α position. In addition, functional group tolerance offered the opportunity for application in late-stage functionalization of biologically active molecules. This transformation proceeds convenient on a gram-scale, and the catalyst can be reused for several runs with consistent catalytic activity.