Decarboxylative benzylation and arylation of nitrilesThis article is part of the ChemComm 'Advances in catalytic C-C bond formation via late transition metals' web themed issue.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c1cc16011g

Decarboxylative benzylation of nitriles is achieved via coupling of metallated nitriles with Pd-π-benzyl complexes that are generated in situ from cyanoacetic benzyl esters. In addition, decarboxylative couplings of α , α -disubstituted 2-methylfuranyl cyanoacetates can lead to either decarboxylative arylation or benzylation depending on the reaction conditions. Decarboxylative coupling of benzylic and heterobenzylic esters results in either benzylation or arylation of nitrile-stabilized anions.