Tetrabutylammonium cyanide catalyzed diasteroselective cyanosilylation of chiral α-hydroxyketones

Tetrabutylammonium cyanide has been used as non-metallic catalyst for the diastereoselective cyanosilylation of α-hydroxyketones derived from the chiral pool. This affords α-substituted-α,β-dihydroxynitriles with high levels of asymmetric induction.