Facile Synthesis of Aryl-Pyridyl, Pyridazinyl, Pyrazinyl, and Triazinyl Acetonitriles

Dihalo pyridine, pyrazine, and pyridazine analogues were converted to the corresponding monohalo acetonitrile analogues through nucleophilic displacement of the halogen with the anion of tert-butyl cyanoacetate. The monohalo acetonitriles reacted under Suzuki or Stille conditions to form the title compounds.