• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.151-155
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• 1997

Stereochemical course of the reductive decyanation of two stereoisomeric 4-t-butyl-1-phenylcyclohexanecarbonitriles 3 and 4 using solvated electron has been studied. While sodium-mediated reactions of both 3 and 4 in the presence of alcohols give the same ratio, 1.5 : 1, in favor of the thermodynamically more stable product 5 over the other one 6, the ratios obtained from the potassium-mediated process are found to be very sensitive to the kind of H-donors. When reactions are performed without H-donors, 5 is only obtained from the experiments with both stereoisomers irrespective of the metal species.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.582-587
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• 2010

A rhodium-catalyzed reductive cleavage reaction of carbon-cyano bonds is developed using hydrosilane as a mild reducing agent. A wide range of nitriles, including aryl, benzyl, and $\beta$-hydrogen containing alkyl cyanides are applicable to this decyanation reaction. The method is also applicable to organic synthesis, in which benzyl cyanide is used as a benzyl anion equivalent and a cyano group functions as a removable ortho-directing group.