N ‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Catalysed Direct Synthesis of Cyano Esters via Cyanation‐Esterification Reaction of α ‐Keto Esters

The cyanation‐esterification reaction of α ‐keto esters catalysed by N ‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) is developed. Under the catalysis of 10 mol% 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene, aromatic and aliphatic α ‐keto esters reacted with ethyl cyanoformate or acetyl cyanide to produce the corresponding cyano esters with a tetrasubstituted carbon center in high yields.