A one-pot <i>N</i>-cyanation of secondary amines has been developed using trichloroacetonitrile as an inexpensive cyano source. A diverse range of cyclic and acyclic secondary amines can be readily transformed into the corresponding cyanamides in good isolated yields, with the method successfully utilised in the final synthetic step of a biologically active rolipram-derived cyanamide. This approach exhibits distinct selectivity when compared to the use of highly toxic cyanogen bromide.

N-cyanation of secondary amines using trichloroacetonitrile

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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