Direct oxidative conversion of methylarenes into aromatic nitriles.

A variety of methylarenes were successfully converted into the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good to moderate yields by the treatment with NBS or DBDMH in the presence of a catalytic amount of AIBN or BPO, followed by the reaction with molecular iodine in aq NH3 in a one-pot procedure. The present reaction is a useful and practical transition-metal-free method for the preparation of aromatic nitriles from methylarenes.