Copper-catalyzed cyanation of aryl iodides with α-cyanoacetates via C-CN bond activation

A Cu(I)-catalyzed cyanation reaction of aryl iodides with alpha-cyanoacetates is reported herein, which uses alpha-cyanoacetates as the nontoxic and easy-handling CN source through copper-mediated C-CN bond cleavage. This reaction enables access to aryl nitriles with an array of functional groups on the aromatic ring in good to excellent yields.