A Remarkable Titanium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Strecker Reaction using Hydrogen Cyanide at Room Temperature

Close to perfect enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) is obtained for the formation of amino nitriles using hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as the cyanide source at room temperature for the first time. In an operationally simple process, the catalyst generated from a partially hydrolyzed titanium alkoxide (PHTA) and (S)-N-salicyl-beta-amino alcohol ligand, catalyzes the cyanation of imines in a short reaction time.