Copper-catalyzed aromatic C-H bond cyanation by C-CN bond cleavage of inert acetonitrile

Abstract

Cut and paste! A Cu-catalyzed aromatic C-H cyanation with acetonitrile as the nitrile source by C-CN cleavage has been developed (see scheme; TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine). The reaction is catalytic in copper, and it is found that using (Me3Si)2 as an additive plays a critical role in promoting C-CN cleavage and enhancing the reaction rate. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.