Copper-mediated cyanation reactions

Aryl nitriles can be efficiently synthesized through transition-metal-mediated cyanation of aryl halides, arenes, aryl boronic acids, and so on. Among those most commonly used transition-metals, copper catalysts are surely much more inexpensive and easier to handle, compared to any other metal catalysts. Considering the high-efficiency of copper catalysts in the activation of C–X, C–H, and C–B bond as well as in the formation of C–CN bond, this Letter summarizes various copper-mediated cyanations based on the different kinds of cyanide reagents, such as metal cyanides, potassium hexacyanoferrate(II), acetone cyanohydrins, DDQ, AIBN, benzyl cyanide, malononitrile, nitromethane, and DMF. Our group’s recent contributions to this area are also demonstrated.