Solvent-free cyanosilylation of ketones with (CH3)3SiCN (TMSCN) catalyzed by NbF5

The addition of TMSCN to ketones catalyzed by dispersed NbF5 gave corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilylethers with excellent yield (>90%). Cyano transfer occurs within 30 min at room temperature in the presence of 1 mol% of NbF5 under solvent-free conditions. These conditions are extremely mild, simple, and tolerate various functional groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.