CC Bond activation with selective functionalization: preparation of unsymmetrical biaryls from benzonitriles

For the first time, benzonitriles have been shown to participate in metal-catalyzed cross coupling reactions via activation of the CCN bond. Thus, reaction of a benzonitrile with an aryl Grignard derivative in the presence of a Ni catalyst can readily provide the corresponding unsymmetrical biaryl in high yield and with high selectivity.