Base‐Promoted α‐Alkylation of Arylacetonitriles with Alcohols

Abstract A practical method to synthesize α‐alkylated arylacetonitriles from arylacetonitriles and alcohols without using any expensive transition metal complexes is demonstrated here. Following this base‐catalysed sustainable procedure, various arylacetonitriles were successfully alkylated with different alcohols. The practical applicability of this protocol was extended by one‐pot synthesis of important carboxylic acid derivatives.