Strecker Reaction of Aldimines Catalyzed by a Nucleophilic N-Heterocyclic Carbene

The first method for Strecker reaction (cyanation of imines) of aldimines with TMSCN in the presence of N-heterocyclic carbene prepared from 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride and t-BuOK, as a nucleophilic catalyst, is described.