Reaction of unsaturated nitriles with hydrosilanes

Reaction of acrylonitrile and 1,4-dicyanobut-1-ene with hydrosilanes in the presence of various catalysts was studied. In the presence of triallylamine, allyl-bis(triethoxypropyl)amine, diallylaminopropyltriethoxysilane, HMPA, NiCl2 + 2MePh2PO, CuCl + 2MePh2PO, [(Me2N)2CCl]2CuCl4, and [(Me2N)2CCl]2PtCl6, the addition of trichlorosilane to acrylonitrile proceeded with the yield of 36 to 97%. Triethoxy- and tributoxysilane were added to acrylonitrile in the presence of rhodium dicarbonyl acetylacetonate with the formation of α-isomer in 56–58% yield. Attempted addition of hydrosilanes to 1,4-dicyanobutene failed.