A practical synthesis of highly functionalized aryl nitriles through cyanation of aryl bromides employing heterogeneous Pd/C: in quest of an industrially viable process

Towards high-performance heterogeneous palladium nanoparticle catalysts for sustainable liquid-phase reactions

A walk-through of nanoparticle–reactant/product, nanoparticle–support and support–reactant/product interaction effects on the catalytic performance of heterogeneous palladium catalysts in liquid-phase reactions.

C–H bond cyanation of arenes using N,N-dimethylformamide and NH4HCO3 as a CN source over a hydroxyapatite supported copper catalyst

Copper dispersed on Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH has been identified as an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the in situ generation of ‘CN’ from NH₄HCO₃ and N,N-dimethylformamide, in the C–H bond activation of 2-phenylpyridine.

Improved Schmidt Conversion of Aldehydes to Nitriles Using Azidotrimethylsilane in 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol

The Schmidt reaction of aromatic aldehydes using a substoichiometric amount (40 mol %) of triflic acid is described. Low catalyst loading was enabled by a strong hydrogen-bond-donating solvent hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP). This improved protocol tolerates a broad scope of aldehydes with diverse functional groups and the corresponding nitriles were obtained in good to high yields without the need for aqueous work up.

Synthesis and catalytic activity of carbon supported copper nanoparticles for the synthesis of aryl nitriles and 1,2,3-triazoles

Various substituted aryl nitrile and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were prepared by using carbon supported copper nanoparticles (C/Cu NPs) as a heterogeneous catalyst under ligand-free conditions, which provided good to excellent yields.

Copper Iodide Nanoparticles-Catalysed Cyanation of Aryl Halides Using Non-Toxic K4[Fe(CN)6] in the Presence of 1,2-Bis(5-Tetrazolyl)Benzene as an Efficient Ligand

Cyanation of aryl bromides were carried out with K4[Fe(CN)6] in the presence of catalytic amounts of a copper salt and 1,2-bis(5-tetrazolyl)benzene as a ligand under thermal conditions. This method has the advantages of high yields, simple methodology and easy work up.

Antiprotozoal activity of dicationic 3,5-diphenylisoxazoles, their prodrugs and aza-analogues

Fifty novel prodrugs and aza-analogues of 3,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)isoxazole and its derivatives were prepared. Eighteen of the 24 aza-analogues exhibited IC₅₀ values below 25 nM against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense or Plasmodium falciparum. Six compounds had antitrypanosomal IC₅₀ values below 10 nM. Twelve analogues showed similar antiplasmodial activities, including three with sub-nanomolar potencies. Forty-four diamidines (including 16 aza-analogues) and the 26 prodrugs were evaluated for efficacy in mice infected with T. b. rhodesiense STIB900. Six diamidines cured 4/4 mice at daily 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal doses for 4 days, giving results far superior to pentamidine and furamidine. One prodrug attained 3/4 cures at daily 25 mg/kg oral doses for 4 days.

Selective Conversion of Aldehydes into Nitriles and Primary Amides in aQueous Media

A simple and selective conversion of aldehydes into the corresponding nitriles and primary amides in aqueous ammonia has been developed. The aldehydes were efficiently converted to the corresponding nitriles in moderate to excellent yields using tetrabutylammonium iodide/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system. The primary amides, however, can be selectively synthesised only in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide.

Reductive elimination from arylpalladium cyanide complexes

We report the isolation and characterization of arylpalladium cyanide complexes that undergo reductive elimination to form arylnitriles. The rates of reductive elimination from a series of arylpalladium cyanide complexes reveal that the electronic effects on the reductive elimination from arylpalladium cyanide complexes are distinct from those on reductive reductive eliminations from arylpalladium alkoxo, amido, thiolate, and enolate complexes. Arylpalladium cyanide complexes containing aryl ligands with electron-donating substituents undergo reductive elimination of aromatic nitriles faster than complexes containing aryl ligands with electron-withdrawing substituents. In addition, the transition state for the reductive elimination of the aromatic nitrile is much different from that for reductive eliminations that occur from most other arylpalladium complexes. Computational studies indicate that the reductive elimination of an arylnitrile from Pd(II) occurs through a transition state more closely related in structure and electronic distribution to that for the insertion of CO into a palladium-aryl bond.

Recent developments and perspectives in palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl halides: synthesis of benzonitriles

The palladium-catalyzed cyanation of Ar-X (X = I, Br, Cl, OTf, and H) allows for an efficient access towards benzonitriles. After its discovery in 1973 and following significant improvements in recent decades, this methodology has become nowadays the most popular for preparation of substituted aromatic nitriles. In this critical review, we summarize the important developments in this area from 2000 until 2010 (151 references).