Acetonitrile Activation: An Effective Two‐Carbon Unit for Cyclization

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201900947
• Publication Date: 2019-02-05T05:13:31Z
• Authors: Qixue Qin; Xiao Luo; Jialiang Wei; Yuchao Zhu; Xiaojin Wen; Song Song; Ning Jiao
• Keywords: Carbon fibers

Abstract A novel activation of acetonitrile for the construction cyclobutenones by [2+2] cyclization was developed. Acetonitrile is utilized first time as two‐carbon (C2) building block. The present protocol successfully inhibits competitive cycloaddition with C≡N bond acetonitrile, but enables in situ formation an unsaturated carbon–carbon and subsequent a C2 unit. This chemistry features simple reaction conditions, high chemoselectivities, wide substrate scope, offers new practical approach to cyclobuteneimines.