One-pot synthesis of α-aminonitriles using a highly efficient and recyclable silica-based scandium (III) interphase catalyst

Both aryl and alkyl imines, which formed in situ from aldehydes and amines undergo smooth nucleophilic addition with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a silica-based scandium (III) interphase catalyst under mild reaction condition to furnish the corresponding α-aminonitriles in good to excellent yields. The catalyst shows high thermal stability (up to 300 °C) and it could also be recovered and reused for at least 6 reaction cycles without considerable lose of its reactivity.