Aminocyanation by the Addition of N–CN Bonds to Arynes: Chemoselective Synthesis of 1,2-Bifunctional Aminobenzonitriles

An
efficient aminocyanation by the direct addition of aryl cyanamides
to arynes is described, enabling incorporation of highly useful amino
and cyano groups synchronously via cleavage of inert N–CN bonds,
affording synthetically useful 1,2-bifunctional aminobenzonitriles.
The postsynthetic functionalization of the aminocyanation products
allows diverse formation of synthetically important derivatives such
as drug molecule Ponstan and fused heterocycles.