Ruthenium-catalyzed dimerization of acrylonitrile in the presence of carboxylic acids

Synthesis of adiponitrile from dimethyl adipate and ammonia in the vapor-phase over niobium oxide

“…11,12 Meanwhile, various synthetic approaches leading to ADN have been developed in academia. These include Ru-catalysed coupling of acrylonitrile, 13–15 ammoxidation of hexanediol with O 2 and NH 3 , 16,17 oxidative fragmentation of cyclohexane epoxide with an iodine monomer and NH 3 , 18 nitrilation of adipic acid with acetonitrile, 19 and electrocatalytic cyanide-decarboxylation coupling of glutamic acid. 20 However, there is still a long way to go to achieve their corresponding industrial processes considering the availability of raw materials and the atom economy.…”

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Ortho C–H Arylation of Aromatic Nitriles with Arylboronates and Observation of Partial Para Arylation

“…In contrast, the use of π-electrons in multiple bonds such as those in alkynes and nitriles − to direct the C–H functionalization sites has been less explored. Benzonitriles usually coordinate to metals using the lone pair on the nitrogen atom, but it is difficult to consider that the coordination mode facilitates the chelation-assisted C–H bond cleavage.…”