Ni-Catalyzed C–H Cyanation of (Hetero)arenes with 2‑Cyanoisothiazolidine 1,1-Dioxide as a Cyanation Reagent

A nickel-catalyzed C–H cyanation reaction of arenes has been developed using 2-cyanoisothiazolidine 1,1-dioxide as an electrophilic cyanation reagent. Many different directing groups can be used in this cyanation to obtain a series of cyanation products with good yields. Adopting this strategy to introduce a cyano group, natural alkaloid menisporphine was successfully synthesized through cyano group conversion that further proved the practicality of this cyanation method.