Trimethylsilylcyanation of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by BINOL-Li salt

A series of aromatic cyanohydrins and their O-silyl ethers have been synthe sized by trimethylsilylcyanation of aromatic aldehydes using a catalyst gen erated in situ from optically active R-(+)-1,1 ' -2-bisnaphthol with n-buty l lithium. Mandelonitrile was prepared in an isolated yield 70% with more t han e.e. = 60%. The effect of solvents and the amount of catalyst on enanti oselectivity was also investigated.