Zinc‐Catalyzed Hydrocyanation of Ynamides and Photoisomerization, a General and Selective Access to E and Z Trisubstituted α‐Enamidonitriles

Abstract

The fully regio‐ and stereoselective Zn‐catalyzed hydrocyanation of ynamides is reported and represents a general access to various trisubstituted E‐α‐enamidonitriles. The catalyst‐free photoisomerization selectively yields the energetically comparable Z‐stereoisomer. Finally, the synthetic potential of these new α‐enamidonitriles was evaluated through the synthesis of original heterocycles.