Metal-catalyzed reactions of organic nitriles and boronic acids to access diverse functionality

The nitrile or cyano (-CN) group is one of the most appreciated and effective functional groups in organic synthesis, having a polar unsaturated C-N triple bond. Despite sufficient stability and being intrinsically inert, the nitrile group can be easily transformed into many other functional groups, such as amines, carboxylic acids, ketones, etc. which makes it a vital group in organic synthesis. On the other hand, despite several boronic acids having a low level of genotoxicity, they have found wide applicability in the field of organic synthesis, especially in transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Recently, transition-metal-catalyzed cascade additions or addition/cyclization processes of boronic acids to the nitrile group open up exciting and useful strategies to prepare a variety of functional molecules through the formation of C-C, C-N and CO bonds. Boronic acids can be added to the cyano functionality through catalytic carbometallation or through a radical cascade process to provide newer pathways for the rapid construction of various important acyclic ketones or amides, carbamidines, carbocycles and N,O-heterocycles. The present review focuses on various transition-metal-catalyzed additions of boronic acids via carbometallation or radical cascade processes using the cyano group as an acceptor.

Recyclable Transition Metal Catalysis using Bipyridine-Functionalized SBA-15 by Co-condensation of Methallylsilane with TEOS

Well-defined recyclable Pd- and Rh-bipyridyl group-impregnated SBA-15 catalysts were prepared for C-C bond coupling reaction and selective hydrogenation reactions, respectively. These SBA-15 derived ligands for the catalysts were prepared by direct and indirect co-condensation method using bipyridyl-linked methallylsilane. This indirect method, involving methoxysilane generated from methallylsilane shows higher loading efficiency of transition metal catalysts on SBA-15 than the direct use of methallylsilane.

Tandem addition/cyclization for synthesis of 2-aroyl benzofurans and 2-aroyl indoles by carbopalladation of nitriles

Pd-Catalyzed tandem reaction of 2-(2-acylphenoxy)acetonitriles or 2-((2-benzoylphenyl)amino)acetonitrile with arylboronic acids for the synthesis of 2-aroyl benzofurans and 2-aroyl indoles.

Efficient synthesis of spirooxindolyl oxazol-2(5H)-ones via palladium(ii)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to nitriles

A versatile synthesis of spirooxindolyl oxazol-2(5H)-ones via palladium(ii)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to nitriles is described. A wide range of spirooxindolyl oxazol-2(5H)-ones and other spirocyclic frameworks incorporating the oxazol-2(5H)-one unit can be readily prepared in good to high yields under the optimal conditions.

Efficient Tandem Addition/Cyclization for Access to 2,4-Diarylquinazolines via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Nitriles

The first example of the palladium-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization of 2-(benzylidenamino)benzonitriles with arylboronic acids has been developed. This transformation features good functional group tolerance and provides an alternative synthetic pathway to access 2,4-diarylquinazolines in moderate to good yields. A plausible mechanism for the formation of 2,4-diarylquinazolines involving sequential nucleophilic addition followed by an intramolecular cyclization is proposed.

Pd-Catalyzed tandem reaction of N-(2-cyanoaryl)benzamides with arylboronic acids: synthesis of quinazolines

A Pd-catalyzed tandem reaction of N-(2-cyanoaryl)benzamides with arylboronic acids for the synthesis of quinazolines has been reported.

Palladium-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization in aqueous medium: synthesis of 2-arylindoles

Pd-catalyzed tandem reaction of potassium aryltrifluoroborates with nitriles for the synthesis of 2-arylindoles in aqueous medium.