ChemInform Abstract: Pd/C-Catalyzed Cyanation of Aryl Halides in Aqueous PEG.

An environmentally friendly Pd/C-PEG-H2O system was developed for the cyanation of aryl halides under microwave irradiation. A wide range of aryl bromides, iodides, and some activated chlorides were demonstrated to be cyanated smoothly by using nontoxic K-4[Fe(CN)(6)]center dot 3H(2)O as the cyanide source. There is no phosphorus- or nitrogen-containing ligand or solvent involved. Moreover, this reaction can be carried out without the protection of inert atmosphere. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).