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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Nickel-Catalyzed Cyanation of Aryl Thioethers
Tristan Delcaillau1, Adrian Woenckhaus-Alvarez1, Bill Morandi1
1ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, HCI, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
A nickel-catalyzed cyanation of aryl thioethers using Zn(CN)2 as a cyanide source has been developed to access functionalized aryl nitriles. The ligand dcype (1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane) in combination with the base KOAc (potassium acetate) is essential for achieving this transformation efficiently. This reaction involves both a C-S bond activation and a C-C bond formation. The scalability, low catalyst and reagents loadings, and high functional group tolerance have enabled both late-stage derivatization and polymer recycling, demonstrating the reaction's utility across organic chemistry.
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