An Improved Cyanoalkylation Method of Aldehydes Catalyzed by Electrogenerated Base in a DMF-H₂O System

Torii, S.; Kawafuchi, H.; Inokuchi, T. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1990, 63, 2430.

Electrogenerated base (EG base) formed in a DMF-H₂O (1.85 M)-Et₄NOTs (0.1-0.2 M)-(Pt) system is effective for condensation of phenylacetonitrile and its related compounds with aldehydes, giving the corresponding cyanoalkylation compounds in good yields, and the concomitant dehydration of the adducts is minimized.