Efficient cyanation of aryl bromides with K4[Fe(CN)6] catalyzed by a palladium-indolylphosphine complex

This study describes a general palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides using K4[Fe(CN)6] as the cyanide surrogate. The reactions can be successfully conducted under mild reaction conditions (at 50 °C) in mixed solvents (water/MeCN = 1:1) without any surfactant additives, and afford the desired aryl nitriles in good-to-excellent yields. Particularly noteworthy is that this system allows the mildest reaction temperature reported so far for palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides with K4[Fe(CN)6] source in general. Common functional groups, including keto, aldehyde, free amine, and heterocyclic substrates are compatible under this system. Interestingly, the phosphine ligands bearing -PCy2 moiety, which usually show excellent activity in aryl halide couplings, are found less effective than the corresponding ligands with -PPh2 group.