Novel Isocyanide-Based Three-Component One-Pot Synthesis of Cyanophenylamino-acetamide Derivatives

A one-pot multicomponent synthesis of a novel class of cyanophenylamino-acetamides through the conversion of primary amides to the corresponding nitriles, starting from simple and readily available inputs including 2-aminobenzamide, an aldehyde, and an isocyanide in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst, in excellent yields at room temperature in ethanol as a green reaction medium is described.