Tropylium-BF4 as Organocatalyst for Efficient Synthesis of Nitriles from Aldoximes; Synthetic Scope and Mechanistic Insights

Structurally diverse aldoximes were conveniently transformed within minutes to the corresponding nitriles by using tropylium BF4 as organocatalyst, in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids (BMIM-ILs) as solvent, under microwave irradiation. The scope of this convenient, cyanide free, process for nitrile synthesis was explored, and DFT computations were employed to shed light on the mechanistic steps of this catalytic reaction leading to dehydration.