Microwave-enhanced synthesis of aryl nitriles using dimeric orthopalladated complex of tribenzylamine and K4[Fe(CN)6]

The activity of palladacycle [Pd{C6H4(CH2N(CH2Ph)2)} (μ-Br)]2 complex was investigated in the synthesis of benzonitriles under both conventional and microwave irradiation conditions and their results were compared together. This complex is an efficient, stable, and non-sensitive to air and moisture catalyst for the cyanation reaction. The substituted benzonitriles were produced of various aryl halides in excellent yields and short reaction times using a catalytic amount of [Pd{C6H4(CH2N(CH2Ph)2)} (μ-Br)]2 complex and K4[Fe(CN)6] in DMF at 130 °C. In comparison to conventional heating conditions, the reactions under microwave irradiation gave higher yields in shorter reaction times.