Acetonitrile as a cyanating reagent: Cu-catalyzed cyanation of arenes.

A novel approach to the Cu-catalyzed cyanation of simple arenes using acetonitrile as an attractive cyano source has been documented. The C-H functionalization of arenes without directing groups involves a sequential iodination/cyanation to give the desired aromatic nitriles in good yields. A highly efficient Cu/TEMPO system for acetonitrile C-CN bond cleavage has been discovered. TEMPO is used as a cheap oxidant and enables the reaction to be catalytic in copper. Moreover, TEMPOCH2CN 6 has been identified as the active cyanating agent and shows high reactivity for forming the -CN moiety.