Jean-Marc Mattalia

Investigation of the mechanism of decyanation of 2,2‐diphenylpropionitrile induced by LiAlH4

The LiAlH4 reduction of 2,2-diphenylpropionitrile (4) in THF yields a mixture of the hydrocarbon 6 and the expected amine 5. Medium effects and reduction with LiAlD4 suggest a mechanism involving the attack of the hydride reagent on the cyano carbon atom followed by the fragmentation of the formed imine salt intermediate. Copyright

Extension of the e.t. mechanism of aromatic nitration to the formation of Grignard reagents of RX (R = alkyl, aryl, cyclopropyl, vinyl). The ion pair collapse versus radical pair collapse hypothesis

Abstract The ion pair collapse versus radical pair collapse hypothesis is proposed for the Grignard reagent formation as an extension of the e.t. mechanism of aromatic nitration. Such a scheme, never examined before for the Grignard reaction, could explain the evolution of the ‘free radical character’ depending on experimental conditions and the nature of the substrate.