Some recent applications of α-amino nitrile chemistry

摘要

Bifunctional α-amino nitriles are not only versatile inter- mediates in organic synthesis but also exhibit a valuable dual reactivity, which has been utilized in a broad range of synthetic applications. This review highlights recent devel- opments in the chemistry of α-amino nitriles, including asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids via Strecker reac- tions using chiral auxiliaries and catalysts, α-amino nitriles as masked iminium ion equivalents in cationic reactions and the synthesis of natural products and heterocycles, and α- metallation to provide nucleophilic acy1 anion equivalents and applications to asymmetric Umpolung reactions.