The ligand-free palladium-catalyzed C3-cyanation of indoles via direct C-H functionalization was achieved. This protocol, utilizing CH3CN as a green and readily available cyanide source, produced the desired products in moderate to good yields through transition-metal-catalyzed C-CN bond cleavage.
The palladium-catalyzed direct C3-cyanation of indoles using acetonitrile as the cyanide source.