2-(N-METHYLANILINO)-2-PHENYLSULFANYLACETONITRILE, A REAGENT TESTED FOR ELECTROPHILIC, NUCLEOPHILIC AND RADICAL REACTIONS

2-(N-Methylanilino) -2-phenylsulfanylacetonitrile 1 has been readily prepared from 2-(N-methylanilino)acetonitrile and diphenyl disulfide. Alkylation of the anion of 1 with halogenoalkanes resulted in concurrent elimination of benzenethiol to give conjugated alpha-aminoalkenenitriles of 2E-configuration. Autoxidation of 1 in the presence of alkoxide ions afforded alkyl N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamates. Nucleophilic substitution of 1 with Grignard reagent or appropriate silyl compounds were promoted by Cul or Lewis acids to give varied alpha-amino nitriles. The 4-oxo-2-amino nitriles 9 obtained by condensation of 1 and titanium enolates can be considered as derivatives of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with the aldehyde group being activated to give an amino nitrile umpolung. When 1 was treated with tributylstannane, the corresponding amino nitrile alpha-radical was formed and the self-coupling product was isolated.