Enantioselective cyanosilylation of aldehydes catalyzed by Mn(salen) complex/triphenyl phosphine oxide

The activation of chiral Mn(salen) complexes with Ph3PO has been found to provide a good strategy for the asymmetric cyanosilylation of aldehydes. Aromatic aldehydes have been converted into the corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilylether in yields up to 95% and ee up to 67% using 0.25 mol% chiral Mn(salen) complex in combination with 10 mol% of achiral Ph3PO as additive. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Various aldehydes were subjected to enantioselective addition of TMSCN catalyzed by 1/Ph3PO. The reaction proceeds smoothly with 0.25 mol% of catalyst loading at 0 °C, giving up to 95% yield and 67% ee.