Preparation of nitriles from aldehydes using ammonium persulfate by means of a nitroxide-catalysed oxidative functionalisation reaction

A methodology for the preparation of nitriles from aldehydes by means of an oxidative functionalisation reaction is reported. It employs ammonium persulfate as both the primary oxidant and the nitrogen source, and a catalytic amount of a nitroxide. It is applicable to a range of structurally diverse (hetero)aromatic aldehydes furnishing the nitrile products in 30-97% isolated yield. Given the ready accessibility of aldehydes and that ammonium persulfate is cheap and less toxic than many other reagents for generating nitriles, this methodology offers a simple and easy to use approach to this valuable class of compounds.