Palladium(II)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid to nitriles

The addition of arylboronic acid to nitriles catalyzed by palladium(II) species in the presence of bipyridine as the ligand was developed. The use of bipyridine is crucial for changing the properties of arylpalladium species from more electrophilic to more nucleophilic making the reaction possible. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.