Nickel-Catalyzed Transformation of Alkene-Tethered Oxime Ethers to Nitriles by a Traceless Directing Group Strategy

Nickel-catalyzed transformation of alkene-tethered oxime ethers to nitriles using a traceless directing group strategy has been developed. A series of alkene-tethered oxime ethers derived from benzaldehyde and cinnamyl aldehyde derivatives were converted into the corresponding benzonitriles and cinnamonitriles in 46–98% yields using the nickel catalyst system. Control experiments showed that the alkene group tethered to an oxygen atom on the oximes via one methylene unit plays a key role as a traceless directing group during the catalysis.