Base-Promoted α-Alkylation of Arylacetonitriles with Alcohols

A practical method to synthesize alpha-alkylated arylacetonitriles from arylacetonitriles and alcohols without using any expensive transition metal complexes is demonstrated here. Following this base-catalysed sustainable procedure, various arylacetonitriles were successfully alkylated with different alcohols. The practical applicability of this protocol was extended by one-pot synthesis of important carboxylic acid derivatives.