A ligand and Palladium‐free Avenue for Cyanation of Aryl Halides: The Art of Samarium Powder in C–C Coupling Reaction

Abstract This is the first study of samarium powder catalyzed cyanation reaction of aryl halides, bearing electron‐withdrawing and electron‐releasing substituents, in the presence of NaCN to afford corresponding benzonitriles in high yields. This protocol takes the advantage of being done in the absence of additive, ligand and precious transition metals such as palladium.