Solvent‐Assisted Diastereoselective Trimethylsilyl Cyanide Additions to Cyclic α‐Fluoro Ketones

This paper describes the solvent‐assisted addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to cyclic α‐fluorinated ketones. In DMF, this method gives TMS‐protected cyanohydrins in good yields (70–95 %) and with good selectivities ( dr up to 22:1), and the products are readily reduced to the corresponding fluorinated 1,2‐amino alcohols.