Molecular Iodine-Catalyzed Imine Activation for Three-Component Nucleophilic Addition Reactions

(beta)-Amino ketones and (alpha)-amino nitriles were synthesized from silyl enol ethers and trimethylsilyl cyanides, via a three-component nucleophilic addition reaction with aromatic aldehydes and amines; the reaction was found to be significantly accelerated by molecular iodine under neutral conditions.