Sulfuric acid-modified PEG-6000 (PEG-OSO3H): an efficient Bronsted acid-surfactant combined catalyst for the one-pot three component synthesis of α-aminonitriles in water

Sulfuric acid-modified polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-OSO3H) is used as an efficient Bronsted acid-surfactant combined and eco-friendly polymeric catalyst for one-pot three component Strecker type synthesis of alpha-aminonitriles in water as a solvent at room temperature. A broad range of substrates including the aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, cyclic ketones (cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone and cycloheptanone), aryl-alkyl ketones, diaryl ketones and tetralones, isatin derivatives and acenaphthenequinone were condensed with amines (aliphatic and aromatic) and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN); all reactions are complete in short times, and the products are obtained in good to excellent yields. The catalyst could be recycled and reused several times without any loss of efficiency.