Derivatives of α,α-Aryl Naphthalimide Nitriles as Fluoride Ion Sensors: Convenient Precursors for the Synthesis of Aryl Naphthalimide Ketones

A facile and efficient S_NAr procedure involving the displacement of activated naphthalimide bromides with the anions of substituted aryl acetonitriles was developed for the preparation of α,α-aryl naphthalimide nitrile derivatives, which can be used as fluoride ion sensors and convenient precursors for the synthesis of aryl naphthalimide ketones based on fluoride-induced deprotonation followed by autoxidative decyanation.