Novel C-C bond cleavage from arylacetonitriles in alcohols to aryl carboxylic esters using potassium iodide and catalytic amount of samarium

A novel way to cleave the carbon - carbon bond from arylacetonitriles in alcohols to their corresponding aryl carboxylic esters using potassium iodide and a catalytic amount of samarium under mild and neutral conditions is described. Useful yields of the reaction can be obtained with electron-deficient subsistent groups in aromatic rings, and the yields are higher when the subsistent group is an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) rather than an electron-donating group (EDG). Products were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and MS.