Anchimeric‐Assisted Spontaneous Hydrolysis of Cyanohydrins Under Ambient Conditions: Implications for Cyanide‐Initiated Selective Transformations. Issue 36 (13th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yerabolu, Jayasudhan Reddy; Liotta, Charles L; Krishnamurthy, Ramanarayanan
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 23:Issue 36(2017)
• Page Start: 8756
• Page End: 8765
• Publication Date: 2017-06-13
• Subjects: anchimeric assistance -- cyanides -- prebiotic systems chemistry -- hydrolysis -- α-hydroxy amides; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201701497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: Nitrile/cyanide hydrolysis is of importance from the perspective of organic chemistry, especially, prebiotic chemistry. Herein we report that cyanohydrins, generated by the reaction of cyanide with β‐keto acids and γ‐keto‐alcohols, spontaneously hydrolyze under ambient conditions (aqueous medium, RT, and a range of pH). The spontaneous hydrolysis is affected by an intramolecular proton transfer and an intramolecular 5‐ exo ‐dig attack, but with a twist. In the case of β‐keto acids, the hydrolysis is mediated by the neighboring carboxylic acid group only at pH values less than 7, whereas in the case of γ‐keto‐alcohols the hydrolysis is mediated by the neighboring hydroxyl group only at pH values greater than 7. The results, in combination with previous works, have implications for selective transformations of cyanide‐initiated prebiotic systems chemistry. Abstract : Selection by hydrolysis : Cyanide‐initiated addition followed by hydrolysis can be a useful tool to select among a set of substrates.