Magnesium complexes as highly effective catalysts for conjugate cyanation of α,β-unsaturated amides and ketones.

Asymmetric cyanation of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) with α,β-unsaturated amides and ketones, respectively, catalyzed by bifunctional mononuclear 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL)-Mg and binuclear bis(prophenol)-Mg catalysts was realized. A series of synthetically important 1,4-cyano products were obtained with good to high enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee).