Electrophilic C(sp2)−H Cyanation with Inorganic Cyanate (OCN−) by PIII/PV=O‐Catalyzed Phase Transfer Activation

An organophosphorus -catalyzed method for the direct electrophilic cyanation of C(sp²)-H nucleophiles with sodium cyanate (NaOCN) is reported. The catalytic deoxyfunctionalization of the OCN^- anion is enabled by the use of a small-ring phosphacyclic (phosphetane) catalyst in combination with a terminal hydrosilane O-atom acceptor and a malonate-derived bromenium donor. In situ spectroscopy under single-turnover conditions demonstrate that insoluble inorganic cyanate anion is activated by bromide displacement on a bromophosphonium catalytic intermediate to give a reactive N-bound isocyanatophosphonium ion, which delivers electrophilic "CN⁺" equivalents to nucleophilic (hetero)arenes and alkenes with loss of a phosphine oxide. These results demonstrate the feasibility of deoxyfunctionalization of insoluble inorganic salts by P^III/P^V=O catalyzed phase transfer activation.