ChemInform Abstract: Copper-Catalyzed Cyanations of Aromatic Bromides with Benzoyl Cyanide

Aromatic nitriles were synthesized through copper-catalyzed cyanations of aromatic bromides using benzoyl cyanide as the cyanide source. A series of functional groups were tolerated under the reaction conditions to provide the products in good yields. Moreover, this protocol avoids using of highly toxic alkali cyanides and expensive palladium catalysts.