Exploring the reactivity of nickel complexes in hydrodecyanation reactions

In the present study, the nickel-catalyzed hydrodecyanation of organic cyanides with lithium borohydride as a cheap hydride source has been examined in detail. As precatalysts straightforward nickel complexes modified by tridentate O,N,O′-ligands and triphenylphosphane as co-ligand have been applied. Noteworthy, excellent yields and chemoselectivities were feasible for a variety of organic cyanides at low catalyst loadings and low temperature (70 °C) within short reaction time (3 h).