ChemInform Abstract: Copper‐Mediated Cyanation of Aryl Halides by Activation of Benzyl Cyanide as the Cyanide Source.

Abstract

Aryl nitriles were efficiently synthesized through copper-mediated cyanation of aryl halides using benzyl cyanide as the cyanide source. Aryl halides with various substituents on the aromatic ring afforded the corresponding aryl nitriles in 32–97 % yields (25 examples). This reaction could also be carried on a gram scale by using commercially available reagents. Additionally, a C–H bond oxidation and a C–CN cleavage are proposed to be involved in this cascade process.