Cobalt-Mediated Synthesis of Propargyl Nitriles and α-Alkoxy Propargyl Nitriles

Dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes of propargyl acetates and acetylenic acetals couple efficiently with diethylaluminum cyanide to produce the corresponding complexed propargyl nitriles and cyanohydrin derivatives, respectively. A convenient procedure far preparing propargyl nitriles and α-alkoxy propargyl nitriles from propargyl alcohols and acetylenic acetals using this methodology is described.