Copper-Mediated Direct Cyanation of Heteroarene and Arene C-H Bonds by the Combination of Ammonium and DMF.

A copper-mediated cyanation of heteroarene and arene C-H bonds has been developed, where ammonium iodide and DMF served as a safe cyanating combination. This procedure shows a broad substrate scope, allowing the facile access of 2-cyano indole, 1-cyano carbazole, 2-cyano pyrrole, and 2-cyano 1-pyridinyl benzene in high yields with good functional group tolerance.