Facile Preparation of α-Aryl Nitriles by Direct Cyanation of Alcohols with TMSCN Under the Catalysis of InX3

A convenient and efficient synthesis of alpha-aryl nitriles was developed by direct cyanation of alcohols with TMSCN under the catalysis of Lewis acid. Using 5-10 mol % of InBr3 as the catalyst, a variety of benzylic alcohols can be converted to the corresponding nitriles in 5-30 min with yields of 46-99%.