Cyclic Oxonitriles: Synergistic Juxtaposition of Ketone and Nitrile Functionalities

Cyclic oxonitriles exhibit unusual regio- and chemoselectivities, reflecting the juxtaposition of electron-withdrawing ketone and nitrile functionalities. In this review, synthetic access to β- and γ-oxonitriles is surveyed, as are the reactions of these two classes of oxonitriles. Collectively, the synopsis aims to highlight the synergistic properties of the nitrile and ketone groups by emphasizing synthetic applications which are otherwise difficult or impossible to perform.