Decarboxylative benzylation and arylation of nitriles.

Decarboxylative benzylation of nitriles is achieved via coupling of metallated nitriles with Pd-π-benzyl complexes that are generated in situ from cyanoacetic benzyl esters. In addition, decarboxylative couplings of α,α-disubstituted 2-methylfuranyl cyanoacetates can lead to either decarboxylative arylation or benzylation depending on the reaction conditions.