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Updated: May 24, 2026

Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile
Published on: October 30, 2018
A truly green synthesis of α-aminonitriles via Strecker reaction
Debasish Bandyopadhyay1, Juliana M Velazquez, Bimal K Banik
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201, West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. banik@utpa.edu.
Background:
The classical Strecker reaction is one of the simplest and most economical methods for the synthesis of racemic α-aminonitriles (precursor of α-amino acids) and pharmacologically useful compounds.
Results:
Indium powder in water is shown to act as a very efficient catalyst for one-pot, three-component synthesis of α-aminonitriles from diverse amines, aldehydes and TMSCN. This general rapid method is applicable to a wide range of amines and aldehydes and produces products in excellent yield.
Conclusions:
The present one-pot, three-component environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles will find application in the synthesis of complex biologically active molecules.
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