Radical Rearrangement of Aryl/Alkylidene Malononitriles Aza Michael Addition/Decynoformylation/Addition Sequence: An Access to α-Aminonitriles and α-Aminoamides.

An efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly tertiary butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP)-mediated rearrangement of aryl/alkylidene malononitrile with anilines has been developed with generation of HCN as the cyanide source for the synthesis of substituted α-aminonitriles and α-aminoamide. A diverse set of α-aminonitriles and α-aminoamides was efficiently synthesized in good to excellent yields. This method features a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance, and the -generated HCN bypasses the use of an external cyanide source.