Hydrocyanation of 2-arylmethyleneindan-1,3-diones using potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a nontoxic cyanating agent

Abstract

The hydrocyanation of 2-arylmethyleneindan-1,3-diones with potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a nontoxic cyanating agent to synthesize 2-(1,3-dioxoindan-2-yl)-2-arylacetonitriles in the presence of benzoyl chloride as a promoter and potassium carbonate as a base by a one-pot procedure is described. The use of nontoxic and inexpensive cyanide source, high yield and simple workup procedures are the advantages of this protocol.

Keywords

• 2-arylmethyleneindan-1,3-dione
• hydrocyanation
• nontoxic cyanating agent
• potassium hexacyanoferrate(ii)