Synthesis of aryl ketones or ketimines by palladium-catalyzed arene C-H addition to nitriles

The unprecedented palladium-catalyzed C-H addition of arenes to nitriles provides moderate to excellent yields of aryl ketones or the corresponding hindered imines. The addition of a small amount of DMSO increases the yields dramatically. Both intermolecular and intramolecular reactions are successful, although the intramolecular reactions tend to be more sluggish. This novel chemistry is believed to involve palladium-catalyzed C-H activation of the arene by electrophilic aromatic substitution, followed by the unusual carbopalladation of a nitrile. Similar reactions have been successfully developed employing arylboronic acids and nitriles. A concise route to xanthones starting from cheap starting materials has been developed employing this synthetic protocol.