Copper-catalyzed cyanation of arenes using benzyl nitrile as a cyanide anion surrogate

The copper-catalyzed cyanation of arenes using benzyl nitrile as a cyanide anion surrogate furnishes aromatic nitriles in moderate to good yields. The cascade process involves a copper-catalyzed aerobic C-H oxidation, a retro-cyanohydrination, and a copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H functionalization.