Deoxycyanation of Alkyl Alcohols Using Photoredox Catalysis
Abstract
Cyano groups represent an important class of functional motifs in medicinal chemistry given their synthetic versatility and capacity to engage in essential interactions with biological targets. However, the synthesis of sterically hindered alkyl nitriles remains challenging, and, furthermore, traditional methods often rely on toxic cyanide sources. Herein, we report a photoredox-catalyzed, metal-free deoxycyanation of alkyl alcohols that allows rapid access to a wide array of 1°, 2°, and 3° cyanides using the easily handled, low-toxicity, tosyl cyanide reagent.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Radical Photochemical Reactions
Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods
Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Organic Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 19
- Pages
- 6096–6101
- Publication date
- 29 April 2026
- Language
- EN