Cyanoethylation of Aromatic Aldehyde Imines Containing a Hydroxy Group in the β- or γ-Position. Synthesis of 3-Cyanoethyl-1,3-oxazacycloalkanes

Abstract

Acrylonitrile reacts with aromatic aldehyde imines containing a hydroxy group in the βor γposition to give 70-85% of the corresponding 2-aryl-3-cyanoethyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazines or 2-aryl-3-cyanoethyl-1,3-oxazolidines, respectively. The results of these reactions are rationalized in terms of ring-chain isomerism of the initial imines. n = 2, 3.