Electrochemical Transformation of Malononitrile and Aldehydes into 3-Substituted 1,1,2,2-Tetracyanocyclopropanes and Bicyclic Pyrrolines

Electrolysis of malononitrile in the presence of aldehydes and NaBr in alcohols in the undivided cell results in the formation of 3-substituted 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes or 6-aryl-2-amino-4,4-dialkoxy-1,5-dicyano-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes, depending on the nature of the aldehydes and the quantity of electricity passed.