Trifluoroethanol as a metal-free, homogeneous and recyclable medium for the efficient one-pot synthesis of α-amino nitriles and α-amino phosphonates

Trifluoroethanol is found to be an efficient and recyclable medium in promoting one-pot, three-component coupling reactions of aldehydes or ketones, amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide or trimethyl phosphite to afford the corresponding α-amino nitriles or α-amino phosphonates in high yields. This protocol does not require the use of an acid or base catalyst.