Microwave-enhanced synthesis of aryl nitriles using dimeric orthopalladated complex of tribenzylamine and K4[Fe(CN)6]

The activity of palladacycle [Pd{C6H4(CH2N(CH2Ph)(2))} (mu-Br)](2) complex was investigated in the synthesis of benzonitriles under both conventional and microwave irradiation conditions and their results were compared together. This complex is an efficient, stable, and non-sensitive to air and moisture catalyst for the cyanation reaction. The substituted benzonitriles were produced of various aryl halides in excellent yields and short reaction times using a catalytic amount of [Pd{C6H4(CH2N(CH2Ph)(2))} (mu-Br)](2) complex and K-4[Fe(CN)(6)] in DMF at 130 degrees C. In comparison to conventional heating conditions, the reactions under microwave irradiation gave higher yields in shorter reaction times. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.