Calcium catalysed Strecker-type reactions towards α-aminonitriles

We report an operationally simple calcium catalysed Strecker type reaction for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles from readily available <i>N</i>,<i>O</i>-acetals. The reaction is tolerant to a wide range of useful functional groups, including heterocycles, and provides the product in good to excellent yields. Additionally, the reaction does not require the need for anhydrous or air-free conditions, making it a suitable candidate for high throughput experimentation.