Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Cyanation of Acyl Chlorides.

Ni-catalyzed decarbonylative cyanation of acyl chlorides with trimethylsilyl cyanide has been achieved. This transformation is applicable to the synthesis of an array of nitrile compounds bearing a wide range of functional groups under neutral conditions. The step-by-step experimental studies revealed that the reaction sequences of the present catalytic reaction are oxidative addition, transmetalation, decarbonylation, and reductive elimination.