P(RNCH2CH2)N: efficient catalysts for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes and ketones

The 1,2-addition of trialkylsilylcyanides to aldehydes and ketones produces the corresponding protected cyanohydrins in good to excellent yields when carried out at 0 °C to room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of the nonionic strong base P(RNCH2CH2)N (R = Me, i-Pr) in THF. These catalysts are easily removed from the product by hydrolysis or column filtration through silica gel.