Organic Chemistry: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

The Chemistry of Alkenyl Nitriles and its Utility in Heterocyclic Synthesis

Abdel-Sattar S Hamad Elgazwy and Mahmoud R Mahmoud Refaee

This review deals with the synthesis involving alkenyl nitriles of heterocyclic systems arranged by increasing ring size and the heteroatoms. Reagents containing alkenyl nitriles and aryl nitriles centers are very important in organic synthesis since they can be versatile and effective species for the efficient construction of rather complex structures from relatively simple starting materials. These reagents have proven to be valuable tools in the synthesis of a wide variety of molecular heterocyclic systems. Their importance stems from the facile bond formation at cyanide centers which can react selectively under suitable conditions. The aim of this review is the analysis and comparison of the various models having evolved on the basis of alkenyl nitriles and their application toward stereoselective synthesis.