Rhodium(III)-catalyzed cyanation of vinylic C-H bonds: N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide as a cyanation reagent.

Rh(III)-catalyzed direct vinylic C-H cyanation reaction has been developed as a practical method for the synthesis of alkenyl nitriles. N-Cyano-N-phenyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS), a user-friendly cyanation reagent, was used in the transformation. Both acrylamides and ketoximes can be employed in the new C-H cyanation process.