molecules Article Cyanovinylation of Aldehydes: Organocatalytic Multicomponent Synthesis of Conjugated Cyanomethyl Vinyl Ethers Samuel Delgado-Hernández 1,2 , Fernando García-Tellado 1,* and David Tejedor 1,* 1 Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Spain;
[email protected] 2 Doctoral and Postgraduate School, Universidad de La Laguna, Apartado Postal 456, 38200 La Laguna, Spain * Correspondence:
[email protected] (F.G.-T.);
[email protected] (D.T.) Abstract: A novel organocatalytic multicomponent cyanovinylation of aldehydes was designed for the synthesis of conjugated cyanomethyl vinyl ethers. The reaction was implemented for the synthesis of a 3-substituted 3-(cyanomethoxy)acrylates, using aldehydes as substrates, acetone cyanohydrin as the cyanide anion source, and methyl propiolate as the source of the vinyl com- ponent. The multicomponent reaction is catalyzed by N-methyl morpholine (2.5 mol%) to deliver the 3-(cyanomethoxy)acrylates in excellent yields and with preponderance of the E-isomer. The multicomponent reaction manifold is highly tolerant to the structure and composition of the aldehyde (aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatics), and it is instrumentally simple (one batch, open atmospheres), economic (2.5 mol% catalyst, stoichiometric reagents), environmentally friendly (no toxic waste), and Citation: Delgado-Hernández, S.; sustainable (easy scalability). García-Tellado, F.; Tejedor, D. Cyanovinylation of