Rhodium-catalyzed biheteroaryl-2-carbonitrile synthesis via double C–H activation

Abstract

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed double C–H activation and in situ dealcoholization to generate useful biheteroaryl-2-carbonitriles have been well developed via a CDC mechanism, in which benzimidates act as both directing groups and the precursors of nitrile groups. This simple and atom-economical method synthesizes various biheteroaryl-2-carbonitrile derivatives, which could be further transformed to more complex compounds.