Abstract
Cyanation at the angular position of ⊿1, 9-2-octalone (I) was conducted with potassium cyanide in the presence of ammonium chloride in polar solvent, or with hydrogen cyanide and triethyl aluminum in tetrahydrofuran. In the latter case, high stereospecificity of the reaction was observed and the formation of trans-2-oxo-9-decalincarbon-itrile (IIa) to its cis-isomer IIIa was in a ratio of 24 : 1. The structures and the configurations of the products were determined by conversion into the known trans- XII and cis-9-decalincarboxylic acid (XIII). Moreover the stereochemistry of this cyanation reaction was discussed.
