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.