Nitriles from aromatic acyl cyanides

The organoindium reagent, prepared from indium metal and bromoacetonitrile, reacts with carbonyl compounds in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane to give /3-hydroxy nitriles (Scheme 93),336 337 Similarly, indium-mediated coupling of bromoacetonitrile or 2-bromopropionitrile with a variety of aromatic acyl cyanides affords the corresponding aromatic a-cyanoketones in moderate to good yields under mild and neutral conditions (Equation (86)).338 Carbonyl compounds are efficiently transformed into 2,2-dichloro-3-hydroxynitriles by the action of trichloroaceto-nitrile and indium(i) bromide (Scheme 94).339 Bromocyanomethylation of carbonyl compounds is also achieved by the reaction of dibromoacetonitrile and indium(i) bromide.340... 

The conversion of aliphatic and aromatic acyl halides to a keto nitriles has been effected by heating the halides with dry metallic cyanides, of which cuprous cyanide has given the most satisfactory results (60-87%). The acyl bromides rather than the chlorides ate preferred, at least in the formation of aliphatic compounds. Thus, pyruvonitrile is prepared in 77% yield from acetyl bromide and cuprous cyanide whereas no product is obtained if acetyl chloride is employed. Benzoyl cyanide is made in 65% yield by heating the corresponding acyl chloride with cuprous cyanide. "... 

Aromatic and Vinyl Nitriles. Aromatic haUdes (Br, I) have been converted into nitriles in excellent yields by Pd(Ph3P)4 catalysis in the presence of Sodium Cyanide Alumina,Potassium Cyanide, or Cyanotrimethykilane (eq 24). While the latter two procedures require the use of Arl as substrates, a more extensive range of substituents are tolerated than the alternative method employing ArBr. A Pd(Ph3P)4-catalyzed extrasion of CO from aromatic and heteroaromatic acyl cyanides (readily available from cyanohydrins) at 120 °C provides aryl nitriles in excellent yields (eq 25). ... 

Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and nitriles also react with aromatic compounds in the presence of strong acids or Friedel-Crafts catalysts to introduce formyl or acyl substituents. The active electrophiles are believed to be dications resulting from diprotonation of CO, HCN, or the nitrile.64 The general outlines of the mechanisms of these reactions are given below. 

---