On January 31, 2020, Kuroda, Chiaki; Kobayashi, Reiri; Kurebayashi, Saeka; Tazawa, Kanako; Masuda, Arisa; Takeuchi, Ryo; Washio, Ayako; Onuki, Hiroyuki published an article.Formula: C10H11N3O3S The title of the article was Reaction of Aminomalononitrile and Benzylic Compounds as a Plausible Route to Phenylalanine. And the article contained the following:
As a possible route to phenylalanine, reaction of aminomalononitrile with benzylic compounds was studied. 2-Benzyl-2-aminomalononitrile was obtained in a good yield when aminomalononitrile p-toluenesulfonate was treated with benzyl bromide in THF using triethylamine as a base. The reaction proceeded in the presence of water. 2-Benzyl-2-aminomalononitrile was hydrolyzed to afford phenylalanine. The aminomalononitrile route can explain the presence of not only 1 methylene in aromatic amino acids, but also 伪-hydrogen in all 20 proteinogenic amino acids. The experimental process involved the reaction of 2-Aminomalononitrile 4-methylbenzenesulfonate(cas: 5098-14-6).Formula: C10H11N3O3S
The Article related to aminomalononitrile benzylic compound benzylation, benzyl aminomalononitrile hydrolysis, phenylalanine preparation, Benzene, Its Derivatives, and Condensed Benzenoid Compounds: Carboxylic Acids and Peroxycarboxylic Acids and Their Sulfur-Containing Analogs and Salts and other aspects.Formula: C10H11N3O3S
Referemce:
Nitrile – Wikipedia,
Nitriles – Chemistry LibreTexts