P-cyanohydrins

Ethylene Cyanohydrin. This cyanohydrin, also known as hydracrylonitnle or glycocyanohydrin [109-78-4] is a straw-colored Hquid miscible with water, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and ethanol, and is insoluble in benzene, carbon disulfide, and carbon tetrachloride. Ethylene cyanohydrin differs from the other cyanohydrins discussed here in that it is a P-cyanohydrin. It is formed by the reaction of ethylene oxide with hydrogen cyanide. 

P-Cyanohydrins. Group transfer from acetone cyanohydrin to epoxides occurs in the presence of Ln(III) alkoxides. 

As described in Sec. III.A, PaHNL from bitter almonds is an excellent biocatalyst for the preparation of (.R)-cyanohydrins. Since the functional overexpression of PaHNL was not successful so far and some substrates, e.g., acrolein, gave only low optical yields, the catalytic suitability of the (J )-specific HNL from Linum usitatissimum [30] for the preparation of (/ )-cyanohydiins was recently investigated [31]. The HNL from L. usitatissimum has been cloned and overexpressed in P. pastoris giving convenient access to recombinant enzyme for synthetic plications [31]. In Table 10 the LuHNL-catalyzed addition of HCN to alddiydes and ketones yielding the corresponding (P)-cyanohydrins is summarized [31b]. 

U8 C, (-l-)-or (-)- m.p. 133X. Occurs combined in the glucoside amygdalin. Prepared by hydrolysis of mandelonitrile (ben-zaldehyde cyanohydrin). It is administered in large doses in the treatment of urinary infections. 

CHi=CMeCOOH. Colourless prisms m.p. 15-16 C, b.p. 160-5 C. Manufactured by treating propanone cyanohydrin with dilute sulphuric acid. Polymerizes when distilled or when heated with hydrochloric acid under pressure, see acrylic acid polymers. Used in the preparation of synthetic acrylate resins the methyl and ethyl esters form important glass-like polymers. 

CH =C(CH3)C02Me. Colourless liquid b.p. lOO C. Manufactured by healing acetone cyanohydrin with methanol and sulphuric acid. It is usually supplied containing dissolved polymerization inhibitor, on removal of which it is readily polymerized to a glass-like polymer. See acrylate resins. 

The most general methods for the syntheses of 1,2-difunctional molecules are based on the oxidation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds (p. 117) and the opening of oxiranes by hetero atoms (p. 123fl.). There exist, however, also a few useful reactions in which an a - and a d -synthon or two r -synthons are combined. The classical polar reaction is the addition of cyanide anion to carbonyl groups, which leads to a-hydroxynitriles (cyanohydrins). It is used, for example, in Strecker s synthesis of amino acids and in the homologization of monosaccharides. The ff-hydroxy group of a nitrile can be easily substituted by various nucleophiles, the nitrile can be solvolyzed or reduced. Therefore a large variety of terminal difunctional molecules with one additional carbon atom can be made. Equally versatile are a-methylsulfinyl ketones (H.G. Hauthal, 1971 T. Durst, 1979 O. DeLucchi, 1991), which are available from acid chlorides or esters and the dimsyl anion. Carbanions of these compounds can also be used for the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds (p. 65f.). 

Out first example is 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-octanone. 3-Octanone can be purchased, but it would be difficult to differentiate the two activated methylene groups in alkylation and oxidation reactions. Usual syntheses of acyloins are based upon addition of terminal alkynes to ketones (disconnection 1 see p. 52). For syntheses of unsymmetrical 1,2-difunctional compounds it is often advisable to look also for reactive starting materials, which do already contain the right substitution pattern. In the present case it turns out that 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone is an inexpensive commercial product. This molecule dictates disconnection 3. Another practical synthesis starts with acetone cyanohydrin and pentylmagnesium bromide (disconnection 2). Many 1,2-difunctional compounds are accessible via oxidation of C—C multiple bonds. In this case the target molecule may be obtained by simple permanganate oxidation of 2-methyl-2-octene, which may be synthesized by Wittig reaction (disconnection 1). 

DiaminO 4,4-dimethyl-l,3,5-thiadiazine hydrobromide was isolated as by-product (418). Benzene sulfonates of cyanohydrin prepared from sodium cyanide and an halobenzoaldehyde, when treated with thiourea or its derivatives, afford 2,4-diamino-5-(p-halogenophenyl)-thiazole benzene sulfonates (447). Similarly, cyanoamido thiocarbamates obtained from cyanamide and isothiocyanates yield substituted 2,4-diaminothiazoles (598). 

The outstanding chemical property of cyanohydrins is the ready conversion to a-hydroxy acids and derivatives, especially a-amino and a,P-unsaturated acids. Because cyanohydrins are primarily used as chemical intermediates, data on production and prices are not usually pubUshed. The industrial significance of cyanohydrins is waning as more direct and efficient routes to the desired products are developed. Acetone cyanohydrin is the world s most prominent industrial cyanohydrin because it offers the main route to methyl methacrylate manufacture. 

Reaction of cyanohydrins with absolute ethanol in the presence of HCl yields the ethyl esters of a-hydroxy acids (3). A/-substituted amides can be synthesized by heating a cyanohydrin and an amine in water. Thus formaldehyde cyanohydrin and P-hydroxyethylamine lead to A/- (P-hydroxyethyl)hydroxyacetamide (4). 

Cyanohydrin Synthesis. Another synthetically useful enzyme that catalyzes carbon—carbon bond formation is oxynitnlase (EC 4.1.2.10). This enzyme catalyzes the addition of cyanides to various aldehydes that may come either in the form of hydrogen cyanide or acetone cyanohydrin (152—158) (Fig. 7). The reaction constitutes a convenient route for the preparation of a-hydroxy acids and P-amino alcohols. Acetone cyanohydrin [75-86-5] can also be used as the cyanide carrier, and is considered to be superior since it does not involve hazardous gaseous HCN and also virtually eliminates the spontaneous nonenzymatic reaction. (R)-oxynitrilase accepts aromatic (97a,b), straight- (97c,e), and branched-chain aUphatic aldehydes, converting them to (R)-cyanohydrins in very good yields and high enantiomeric purity (Table 10). 

Silylated cyanohydrins have also been prepared via silylation of cyanohydrins themselves and by the addition of hydrogen cyanide to silyl enol ethers. Silylated cyanohydrins have proved to be quite useful in a variety of synthetic transformations, including the regiospecific protection of p-quinones, as intermediates in an efficient synthesis of a-aminomethyl alcohols, and for the preparation of ketone cyanohydrins themselves.The silylated cyanohydrins of heteroaromatic aldehydes have found extensive use as... 

The in situ cyanosilylation of p-an1saldehyde is only one example of the reaction which can be applied to aldehydes and ketones in general. - The simplicity of this one-pot procedure coupled with the use of inexpensive reagents are important advantages over previous methods. The silylated cyanohydrins shown in the Table were prepared under conditions similar to those described here. Enolizable ketones and aldehydes have a tendency to produce silyl enol ethers as by-products in addition to the desired cyanohydrins. The... 

Cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers are generally useful as precursors of ctir-bonyl anion equivalents and as protected forms of aldehydes. Direct conversion of p-anisaldehyde into 0-TRIMETHYLSILYL-4-METH0XYMANDEL0-NITRILE employs a convenient in situ generation of trimethylsilyl cyanide from chlorotnmethylsilane A general synthesis of allemc esters is a variant of the Wittig reaction. Ethyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate converts pro-pionyl chloride into ETHYL 2,3-PENTADlENOATE. 

Cyano-3 -hydroxy-5a-pregnan-20-one A suspension of 5a-pregnane-3, 20-dione (2 g) in ethanol (90 ml) is treated with acetone cyanohydrin (4 ml) and three drops of triethylamine and stirred at room temperature until complete dissolution. After 3 hr, the solution is diluted with 200 ml of water, acidified with acetic acid and the crystalline precipitate is thoroughly washed with water and dried under vacuum to give 2.1 g (97%) of product mp 172-178° (dec). A sample recrystallized from ethyl acetate melts at 176-179° (dec) [a]p 86° (ethyl acetate). 

Besides acylation and alkylation reactions, typical carbonyl reactions, such as reduction and substitution, are known. Thus, the oxo group in position 3 of 8 is attacked by sodium cyanide, resulting in the cyanohydrin in 55% yield. Subsequent dehydration with p-toluene-sulfonic acid and acetylation in position 5 gives 1-benzothiepin 12.90... 

Detailed preparation from LiCN (from LiH and acetone cyanohydrin) and TMSC1, followed by its reaction with p-bcnzoquinone in the presence of 18-Crown-6 and KCN. 

Benzaldehyde, 43, 73, 123 Benzaldehyde diethyl acetal, 108, 110,122—3 Benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal, 34, 111 Benzenesulphonylhydrazonc, 13 Benzophenone, 137 Benzophenone cyanohydrin, 137 p-Benzoquinone, 137... 

The mixture is extracted with four 100-ml. portions of methylene chloride. The extracts are combined, washed successively with 100 ml. of water and four 100-ml. portions of 5% sodium carbonate solution (Note 4), and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The methylene chloride is removed by evaporation at 30-40° under the pressure of a water aspirator, and the residue is distilled through a 30-cm. Vigreux column to yield 85-90 g. (65-69%) (Note 5) of acetone cyanohydrin nitrate (Note 6) b.p. 62-65°/10 mm. 1.4170-1.4175 (Note 7). 

In 1992, Oda et al. reported a one-pot synthesis of optically active cyanohydrin acetates from aldehydes, which were converted to the corresponding racemic cyanohydrins through transhydrocyanation with acetone cyanohydrin, catalyzed by a a strongly basic anion-exchange resin [46]. The racemic cyanohydrins were acetylated by a lipase from P. cepacia (Amano) with isopropenyl acetate as the acyl donor. The reversible nature of the base-catalyzed transhydrocyanation enabled continuous racemization of the unreacted cyanohydrins, thereby effecting a total conversion (Figure 4.21). 

The addition of HCN to aldehydes or ketones produces cyanohydrins. This is an equilibrium reaction. For aldehydes and aliphatic ketones the equilibrium lies to the right therefore the reaction is quite feasible, except with sterically hindered ketones such as diisopropyl ketone. However, ketones ArCOR give poor yields, and the reaction cannot be carried out with ArCOAr since the equilibrium lies too far to the left. With aromatic aldehydes the benzoin condensation (16-54) competes. With oc,p-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, 1,4 addition competes (15-33). Ketones of low reactivity, such as ArCOR, can be converted to cyanohydrins by treatment with diethylaluminum cyanide (Et2AlCN see OS VI, 307) or, indirectly, with cyanotrimethylsilane (MesSiCN) in the presence of a Lewis acid or base, followed by hydrolysis of the resulting O-trimethylsilyl cyanohydrin (52). The use of chiral additives in this latter reaction leads to cyanohydrins with good asymmetric... 

Both enzymes belong to the family of a,p-hydrolases." The active site of MeHNL is located inside the protein and connected to the outside through a small channel, which is covered by the bulky amino acid tryptophane 128." It was possible to obtain the crystal structure of the complex with the natural substrate acetone cyanohydrin with the mutant SerSOAla of MeHNL. This complex allowed the determination of the mode of substrate binding in the active site." A summary of 3D structures of known HNLs was published recently." " ... 

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