A Novel and Efficient Method for the Preparation of α-Hydroxyimino Carbonyl Compounds from α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with Butyl Nitrite and Phenylsilane Catalyzed by a Cobalt(II) Complex

Various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, such as α,β-unsaturated esters, α,β-unsaturated ketones, α,β-unsaturated nitriles, and α,β-unsaturated amides, were directly converted to the corresponding a-hydroxyimino carbonyl compounds in high yields on treatment with butyl nitrite and phenylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of N,N′-bis(2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-oxobutylidene)ethylenediaminatocobalt(II) complex under mild conditions.