Catalytic C-CN bond activation

Abstract

Synthetic organic reactions through C–CN activation by transition metal catalysis are reviewed. C–CN bond activation by metal complexes proceeds mainly via two pathways; oxidative addition and C–CN cleavage accompanied by silylisonitrile formation. Both the elemental reactions have been successfully applied to the catalytic reactions, including hydrodecyanation of nitriles, crosscoupling using nitriles as electrophiles, cyanation of aryl halides and arenes using organic nitriles as cyanating agents, and carbocyanation of unsaturated compounds.