Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cyanation by Using an Electrophilic Cyanating Agent, N-Cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (NCTS).

The ability to introduce a nitrile group into a biologically active compound is very useful in organic synthesis, owing to the importance of nitrile groups in transformations and tuning molecular properties. To date, nucleophilic cyanation has been the most used strategy for this purpose, whilst electrophilic cyanation reactions are less developed. Recently, the electrophilic cyanation reagent N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (NCTS) has received increasing attention, owing to its superior properties in terms of safety and practicality. This Focus Review summarizes recent progress in transition-metal-catalyzed cyanation reactions that use NCTS.