Abstract
2M3BN in the presence of catalytic amount of several cobalt complexes was mainly isomerized into 2M2BN due to a easier activation of C–H bond instead of C
CN bond.
With 3PN, the first example of a reversible cleavage of the C
CN with complex derived from Co
+ was evidenced.
▪
The behavior of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile (2M3BN) in the presence of catalytic amount of several cobalt complexes was evaluated. Irrespective of the nature of cobalt complexes and the experimental conditions (presence of ligand [such as P(OPh)
3 or pyridine], or/and of Lewis acid [ZnCl
2, AlCl
3], organic solvent or ionic liquid), the product of isomerization 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile was obtained instead of the expected rearranged product 3-pentenenitrile (3PN). This result was explained by the activation of C
H bond instead of C
CN bond. With 3PN, the first example of a reversible cleavage of the C
CN with complex derived from Co
+ was evidenced.