Green multicomponent reaction for synthesis of α-aminonitrile in deep eutectic solvent

The Strecker reaction, discovered in 1850, has been recognized as the first multicomponent reaction published ever and has a central importance to the life sciences. Strecker reaction is an efficient method for producing a wide range of α-aminonitrile derivatives and is also one of the most important synthesis strategies for various types of α-amino acids and nitrogen cycles.1In the classical Strecker method, acetaldehyde reacted with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide to produce α-amino acids. Due to the toxic and corrosive nature of hydrogen cyanid and the production of a wide range of by product, this approach was limited.One of the modifications of the Streaker method is the use of cyanide agent such as trimethylsiloxynitrile and diethylphosphorocyanidates instead hydrogen cyanide.2In this study, we used choline chloride/urea based deep eutectic solvent as a highly efficient reaction media and catalyst for greener synthesis of α-aminonitrile via one-pot three component reaction of aldehydes, amines and TMSCN under mild reaction conditions.

Keywords:

Strecker reaction , α-Aminonitrile , CH/urea