Rhodium-Catalyzed ortho-Cyanation of 2-Aryl-1,2,3-triazole: An Alternative Approach to Suvorexant

A rhodium-catalyzed ortho-cyanation protocol for 2-aryl-1,2,3-triazole has been developed by using N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluensulfonamide (NCTS) as an environmentally friendly cyanide source. This simple cyanation reaction provides a new protocol for the diversification of benzonitriles in moderate to good yields and tolerates useful functional groups. In addition, the method was used to synthesize 5-methyl-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzoic acid, which is the key intermediate of suvorexant.