Rhodium( iii )-catalyzed cyanation of vinylic C–H bonds: N -cyano- N -phenyl- p -toluenesulfonamide as a cyanation reagent

Rh(III)-catalyzed direct vinylic C-H cyanation reaction has been developed as a practical method for the synthesis of alkenyl nitriles. N-Cyano-N-phenyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS), a user-friendly cyanation reagent, was used in the transformation. Both acrylamides and ketoximes can be employed in the new C-H cyanation process.