| Abstract: | The chemoselectivity in the palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of 2‐(o‐bromoaryl)‐alkenenitriles depends on the nature of α‐substitutents. 2‐(o‐Bromoanilino)alkenenitriles attacked the cyano group, followed by the cyano group transposition and hydrolysis, to give o‐(methylamino)benzonitrile. 2‐(o‐Bromobenzyl)alkenenitriles, 2‐(o‐bromophenylthio)alkenenitriles and 2‐(o‐bromophenoxy)‐alkenenitriles attacked the olefinic double bonds and led to l‐vinyl‐2‐indancecarbonitrile, 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene‐2‐carbonitriles, 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[b]thiine‐2‐carbonitriles, and 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[b]oxine‐2‐carbonitriles. A general mechanism for the palladium‐catalyzed arylations is proposed. |
