Efficient assembly of α-aryl and α-vinyl nitriles via iron-catalyzed ether bond activation

A novel and practical method for the synthesis of diverse α-aryl and α-vinyl nitriles was developed via an iron-catalyzed sp3 C-O ether bond cleavage with C-C bond formation in the reaction of π-activated ethers with TMSCN.

Direct cyanation of π-activated ethers to synthesis of α-aryl and α-vinyl nitriles via iron-catalyzed sp3 C-O ether bond cleavage was developed.