Copper-mediated C–H cyanation of (hetero)arenes with ethyl (ethoxymethylene)cyanoacetate as a cyanating agent

Abstract

A copper-mediated direct C–H cyanation of (hetero)arenes with ethyl (ethoxymethylene)cyanoacetate as a safe cyanating agent has been successfully developed by using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and provides a facile and efficient method for the synthesis of a wide range of (hetero)aryl nitriles.