Cyanation of nucleophilic alkynes: easy approach to element-substituted α-cyanoenamines

The reactions of trimethylsilyl cyanide and tributyltin cyanide with ynamines proceeds as a regioselective syn-addition and provide previously unknown β-elementosubstituted α-cyanoenamines as pure E-isomers. The reaction of cyanogen bromide with ynamines as well the hydrocyanation of phosphorus substituted N,N-diethylaminoacetylenes by acetone cyanohydrin also proceeds as regioselective syn-addition, though the initially formed Z-isomers undergo an easy transformation into E-isomers. Cross-coupling reaction of β-bromo-α-cyanoenamine with arylboronic acids were shown to be an easy and convenient approach to α-dialkylaminosubstituted cynnamonitriles.