Synthesis of Aromatic Nitriles Using Nonmetallic Cyano-Group Sources

摘要

Aromatic nitriles are prepared efficiently through transition-metal-mediated cyanation of aryl (pseudo)halides with metallic cyano-group sources, such as CuCN, KCN, NaCN, Zn(CN)2, TMSCN, or K4Fe(CN)6. However, this approach often suffers from drawbacks, such as the formation of stoichiometric amounts of metal waste, the poisoning of the metal catalysts, or the generation of toxic HCN gas. As a result, a range of "nonmetallic" organic cyano-group sources have been explored for the cyanation of aryl halides andarene C—H bonds. This Minireview summarizes types of nonmetallic cyano-group sources and their applications in the preparation of aryl nitriles.