DNA-Compatible Cyanomethylation of (Hetero)aryl Halides or Triflates under a Tandem Reaction for DNA-Encoded Library Synthesis

A DNA-compatible reaction has been developed for the cyanomethylation of (hetero)aryl halides or triflates via a tandem process involving palladium-mediated Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and base-promoted isoxazole fragmentation. This one-pot protocol employs easily accessible starting materials, exhibits a wide substrate scope, and results in no significant DNA damage. Additionally, the resulting (hetero)arylacetonitriles can be converted into the corresponding carboxylic acids, which may be utilized for the synthesis of DNA-encoded chemical libraries.