Metal-Free One-Pot Conversion of Electron-Rich Aromatics into Aromatic Nitriles

Various electron-rich aromatics could be smoothly converted into the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good to moderate yields by treatment of electron-rich aromatics with POCl3 and DMF, followed by treatment with molecular iodine in aqueous ammonia. The present reaction is a novel metal-free one-pot method for the preparation of aromatic nitriles from electron-rich aromatics.