Silica Sulfuric Acid Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of (alpha)-Aminonitriles

A simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of (alpha)aminonitriles by a one-pot three-component condensation of aldehydes, amines, and trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of silica sulfuric acid at room temperature. The silica sulfuric acid is reusable and could be applied in subsequent reactions with comparable activity.