Efficient cyanation of aryl bromides with K4[Fe(CN)6] catalyzed by a palladium-indolylphosphine complex

This study describes a general palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides using K4[Fe(CN)6] as the cyanide surrogate. The reactions can be successfully conducted under mild reaction conditions (at 50 °C) in mixed solvents (water/MeCN = 1:1) without any surfactant additives, and afford the desired aryl nitriles in good-to-excellent yields. Particularly noteworthy is that this system allows the mildest reaction temperature reported so far for palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides with K4[Fe(CN)6] source in general. Common functional groups, including keto, aldehyde, free amine, and heterocyclic substrates are compatible under this system. Interestingly, the phosphine ligands bearing –PCy2 moiety, which usually show excellent activity in aryl halide couplings, are found less effective than the corresponding ligands with –PPh2 group.