Rhodium(III) iodide hydrate catalyzed three-component coupling reaction: synthesis of α-aminonitriles from aldehydes, amines, and trimethylsilyl cyanide

Aryl imines formed from aldehydes and amines undergo smoothly in situ nucleophilic addition with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) in the presence of catalytic amount of hydrated rhodium(III) iodide to afford the corresponding α-aminonitriles in excellent yield. The low catalytic loading (2 mol %), mild experimental conditions, and short reaction time (mostly within 13 min) represent the key features of this novel catalytic system.