Copper‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative CN Triple Bond Formation: Direct Synthesis of Benzonitriles from Phenylacetic Acids Under O2 Atmosphere

Abstract A copper‐catalyzed reaction of phenylacetic acids with urea was found to afford benzonitriles under an oxygen atmosphere. This reaction proceeds smoothly by a sequence of decarboxylation, dioxygen activation, CH bond functionalization, and nitrile formation with urea as the nitrogen source. Molecular oxygen was found to play a crucial role in this transformation. This reaction represents a novel protocol for the formation of benzonitriles in an environmental friendly way and with good functional group tolerability. magnified image