Direct amino acid-catalyzed cascade reductive alkylation of arylacetonitriles: high-yielding synthesis of ibuprofen analogs

A novel approach for a one-pot, three-component reductive alkylation (TCRA) reaction of arylacetonitriles-containing electron-withdrawing groups with aldehydes/ketones and 1,4-dihydropyridine via iminium-catalysis has been developed. Many TCRA reaction products have direct applications in agricultural and pharmaceutical chemistry.