Cyanation of aromatic compounds

Isomer distribution for cyanation of aromatic compounds has been determined in a number of cases [217-220]. The selectivity of the cyanation reaction is higher than that of the anodic acetoxylation process. This high regioselectivity has been put to good use for the preparation of 2-cyanopyrroles and 2-cyanoindoles [226] ... 

The electrochemical oxidation of CN in aqueous solution gives (CN)2, but in CH3CN as solvent cyanation of aromatic compounds may be achieved.28... 

Cyanogen Iodide (ICN) has been used extensively for the cyanation of alkenes and aromatic compounds [12], iodination of aromatic compounds [13], formation of disulfide bonds in peptides [14], conversion of dithioacetals to cyanothioacetals [15], formation of trans-olefins from dialkylvinylboranes [16], lactonization of alkene esters [17], formation of guanidines [18], lactamization [19], formation of a-thioethter nitriles [20], iodocyanation of alkenes [21], conversion of alkynes to alkyl-iodo alkenes [22], cyanation/iodination of P-diketones [23], and formation of alkynyl iodides [24]. The products obtained from the reaction of ICN with MFA in refluxing chloroform were rrans-16-iodo-17-cyanomarcfortine A (14)... 

There have been several recent investigations into the mechanism of photo-cyanation of aromatic hydrocarbons. The process with naphthalene, biphenyl, and phenanthrene has been subjected to a kinetic analysis the reactions in dry or aqueous methyl cyanide are shown to involve two transient species, the first of which is an ionic complex formed from a triplet excimer of the arene, or, in the presence of an electron acceptor, from a triplet exciplex. Reaction of the transient complex with the cyanide ion yields the radical ArHCN, and in aqueous methyl cyanide this second transient reacts with itself to produce dihydrocyano- and cyano-compounds. In dry methyl cyanide the radical species is oxidized to the cyano product. 

The direct nature of attack of CN on radical cations of aromatic compounds has been demonstrated by CV [221]. The reversible one-electron oxidation of anthracene becomes irreversible in the presence of CN, and 2 F electrolysis gives a mixture of cyano and isocyano addition across the 9,10-position. Interestingly, it appears that cyanation of 9,10-diphenylanthracene gives the 9,10-diphenyl-9,10-dicyano-9,10-dihydroanthra-cene only [233]. 

However, this is not always the case. As an example, electrochemical cyanation 5 5-6 of an aromatic compound can be carried out by anodic oxidation in methanol-sodium cyanide (Eq. (16) ). The current yield (the yield of cyanation product based on the amount of... 

S.C.E.) and, because diphenylacetylene is preferentially oxidized, it is likely that the aromatic compound is discharged, as for cyanation, at ca. 2 0 V. From the figures given in Table 3 it seems unlikely that localized oxidation of the triple bond is taking place even though it is the triple bond which is acetoxylated. The probable mechanism of formation of the products is indicated in Scheme 14. 

The reaction has been shown to be of very broad scope with a multitude of nucleophiles Nu such as imides.23,24,29,32,33,36,37,42 amines,10,32 cyanide,25,32 hydroxide,10,32 alkox-ide,10,26,32 electron-rich isocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic compounds,28 carboxamides,31 lactams,31 ureas,31 sulfonamides,31 cyanate,31 formate (to give products with Nu = H),34 C-H acidic compounds,35 hydrazines and hydrazides,38 and sulfinates.38 The amino group NR R2 of cyclopropane-1,1-diamines and the nucleophile Nu in bicycles 8, 9 or 12, respectively, can be easily replaced with other nucleophiles Nu, such as water,10,32,33 alkoxide,10,32-34,42 Grignard compounds,27,42 amines,29,30,36,37,42,43 cyanide,29,33,42,44 hydride,34,42,44 and C-H acidic compounds39-41,43,44 (see Section 5.2.1.). Therefore, it is currently the most important method for the preparation of substituted bicyclic cyclopropylamines. The toxic and costly reagent methyl fluorosulfate can be avoided in a modified synthetic route, which instead of the fluorosulfate 5 proceeds via the corresponding tetraphenylborate, hexafluorophosphate, or (most conveniently) via the tosylate.23 The different steps of the method can often be combined in a one-pot procedure. Results are summarized in Table 3. 

The curing reaction can be carried out thermally or with the addition of a catalyst. The thermal cure is strongly influenced by impurities associated with the synthesis. The greater the degree of monomer purity, the more slowly the thermal cure proceeds. If the monomer is sufficiently purified, the cure rate can be predictably controlled by the addition of catalysts. As with the aromatic cyanate esters, the fluoromethylene cyanate esters can be cured by the addition of active hydrogen compounds and transition metal complexes. Addition of 1.5 wt% of the fluorinated diol precursor serves as a suitable catalyst.9 The acetylacetonate transition metal salts, which work well for the aromatic cyanate esters,1 are also good catalysts. 

This reaction does not take place with aromatic amines. With aniline, for example, there is obtained instead a compound known as di-phenyl thio-urea, hydrogen sulphide being eliminated. On heating the diphenyl thio-urea with acids one molecule of aniline is lost and phenyl iso-thio-cyanate is obtained (p. 421). 

The aromatic cyanates are of much more importance. If phenols are treated with cyano halides in such a way as to definitely prevent an excess of the corresponding phenolate, aryl cyanates can be isolated in up to quantitative yields. To achieve this, triethylamine is slowly added to an equimolar mixture of the phenol and the cyano halide in a nonprotic solvent, preferably acetone or n-pentane/diethyl ether (equation 27).Heteioaromatic hydroxy compounds can be treated in the same way. The method fails, however, if various electron-attracting substituents are present, as for instance with 2,4-dinitrophenol or polyhalophenols. ... 

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