Preparation of Nitriles from Primary Alcohols by a New Type of Oxidation-reduction Condensation Using 2,6-Dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and Diethyl Cyanophosphonate

Cyanation of alkoxydiphenylphosphines, in situ prepared from nBuLi and various primary alcohols, with 2,6-dimethyl-1,4benzoquinone (DMBQ) and diethyl cyanophosphonate provided the corresponding nitriles in high yields.