Sulfate additives generate robust and highly active palladium catalysts for the cyanation of aryl chlorides

The use of sulfate additives such as H2SO4 greatly increases the reactivity of palladium catalysts for the cyanation of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides and renders them more robust toward adventitious air. Using this method, a wide variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic nitriles were prepared in high yield.