Rhodium-catalyzed ortho-cyanation of symmetrical azobenzenes with N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide.

A rhodium-catalyzed ortho-cyanation of symmetrical azobenzenes is described employing N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide as an environmentally friendly cyanide source. The present protocol allows the synthesis of various benzonitrile derivatives in moderate to good yields and tolerates many useful functional groups.