Highly enantioselective titanium-catalyzed cyanation of imines at room temperature.

A highly active and enantioselective titanium-catalyzed cyanation of imines at room temperature is described. The catalyst used is a partially hydrolyzed titanium alkoxide (PHTA) precatalyst together with a readily available N-salicyl-beta-aminoalcohol ligand. Up to 98% ee was obtained with quantitative yields in 15 min of reaction time using 5 mol % of the catalyst. Various N-protecting groups such as benzyl, benzhydryl, Boc, and PMP are tolerated.