A Direct and Efficient Synthetic Method for Nitriles from Ketones

Abstract Cyclic cyano derivatives 3 were obtained by the reaction of Me3SiCN / ZnI2 with the cyclic ketones 2 which gave the trimethylsilyloxy nitriles 4. They were directly transformed to cyano derivatives 3 (70–80% yield) by the reductive reagent Me3SiCl-NaI in acetonitrile in the presence of H2O.