Transition-Metal-Free Conversion of Trifluoropropanamides into Cyanoformamides through C-CF3 Bond Cleavage and Nitrogenation.

A new transition-metal-free transformation of trifluoropropanamides into cyanoformamides through a sequence of C-CF3 bond cleavage and nitrogenation using tert-butyl nitrite as the nitrogen source is described. The method features direct detrifluoromethylation, broad substrate scopes, and excellent selectivity control, representing a new shortcut for constructing the nitrile group involving C-CF3 σ-bond cleavage.