Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Arylboronic Acid and Benzonitriles Using DMSO as the Methylene Source

Abstract An interesting strategy on palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of arylboronic acids and benzonitriles has been developed. In this approach, DMSO was utilized as the methylene source and reacted with benzamides (generated in situ from benzonitriles) to form an N ‐acyliminium cation, followed by palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling with phenylboronic acids to afford the final products. A variety of the desired products were obtained in moderate to excellent yield.