α-Aminonitriles are very useful in the synthesis of bioactive natural products and pharmaceutically important heterocycles. The transition metal catalyzed C-H activation followed by cyanation is the most straightforward possible reaction sequence used to accomplish this transformation. The homogeneous catalyst used for this reaction does facilitate the recycling and reuse of the reagents leading to the accumulation of a large amount of chemical waste. Herein, we design and develop a material which adsorbs oxygen from air and used it as a co-oxidant in C-H activation of N-methylanilines. The synthesized goethite with lychee-like morphology has proven its prowess as a very active catalyst for an eco-friendly synthesis of α-amino nitriles by activating the C-H bond. Necessarily, by using goethite, we can perform cyanation of N-methylanilines using atmospheric oxygen in aqueous media under neutral conditions.

C-H activation and oxidative cyanation of amines using protuberant lychee-like goethite

2019 Spring National Meeting

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