Copper-mediated direct C2-cyanation of indoles using acetonitrile as the cyanide source.

A copper-mediated C2-cyanation of indoles using cheap and commercially available acetonitrile as the "nonmetallic" cyanide source was achieved through sequential C-C and C-H bond cleavages. The installation of a removable pyrimidyl group on the indole nitrogen atom is the key for this C2 selectivity. This approach provides a novel and alternative route leading to indole-2-carbonitrile.