Palladium-catalyzed cyanation reactions of aryl chlorides

We have discovered an efficient cyanation of aryl chlorides which employs Pd2(dba)3, dppf and Zn as the catalyst and Zn(CN)2 as the cyanide source. Both electron-deficient and electron-rich aryl chlorides are effectively cyanated under these conditions. This discovery represents the first successful palladium-catalyzed cyanation of both electron-deficient and electron-rich aryl chlorides.