Palladium-catalyzed cyanation reactions of aryl chlorides

Abstract

We have discovered an efficient cyanation of aryl chlorides which employs Pd 2(dba) 3, dppf and Zn as the catalyst and Zn(CN) 2 as the cyanide source. Both electron-deficient and electron-rich aryl chlorides are effectively cyanated under these conditions. This discovery represents the first successful palladium-catalyzed cyanation of both electron-deficient and electron-rich aryl chlorides.