Rhodium(I)-catalyzed N-CN bond cleavage: intramolecular β-cyanation of styrenes

We report herein the first example of intramolecular cyanation of a styrene by a rhodium(I)-catalyzed N-CN cleavage reaction. Substituents on the arenes or the styrene alpha-position are tolerated. Our results demonstrate that alkene cyanation can indeed be atom economical.