A decarbonylative cyanation of aromatic esters with aminoacetonitriles in the presence
of a nickel catalyst was developed. The key to this reaction was the use of a thiophene-based
diphosphine ligand, dcypt, permitting the synthesis of aryl nitrile without the generation
of stoichiometric metal- or halogen-containing chemical wastes. A wide range of aromatic
esters, including hetarenes and pharmaceutical molecules, can be converted into aryl
nitriles.
Key words
nickel catalysis - cyanation - aromatic esters - aminoacetonitriles - coupling reaction