Dual Ligand-Enabled Nondirected C–H Cyanation of Arenes

Aromatic nitriles are key structural units in organic chemistry and thus highly attractive targets for C–H activation. Herein the development of an arene-limited, nondirected C–H cyanation based on the use of two complementary ligands is reported. The reaction enables the cyanation of arenes by C–H activation in the absence of directing groups and is thus complementary to established approaches.