Bronsted Basic Ionic Liquid as Catalytic and Reusable Media for Conjugate Cyanation of CF3‐Substituted Alkylidenemalonates Using Acetone Cyanohydrin

A new class of CF3 substituted alkylidenemalonates were synthesized and used as a substrate for conjugate cyanation reaction. Ionic liquid has been used as an organocatalyst under solvent‐free and mild reaction conditions. The present protocol exhibited remarkable catalytic activity using a favourable cyanide source i. e. acetone cyanohydrin. Excellent yields were obtained for a wide range of substrates and the high reactivity is presumptively attributed to the basicity of an ionic liquid used. Mechanistic insights were studied using NMR spectroscopy and a probable catalytic cycle was proposed. Synopsis: In this manuscript, we have synthesized a wide range of CF3 substituted alkylidenemalanotes. [bmim]OAc ionic liquid was used for the conjugated hydrocyanation of CF3 substituted alkylidenemalanotes using acetone cyanohydrin as a safer and eco‐friendly cyanide source and obtained CF3 containing nitrile products in high yield. A probable catalytic cycle was proposed according to NMR studies.