Silver-mediated oxidative 1,2-alkylesterification of styrenes with nitriles and acids via C(sp)-H functionalization.

A new silver-mediated 1,2-alkylesterification of alkenes with nitriles and acids promoted by a catalytic amount of nickel catalyst for producing acyloxylated nitriles has been developed via a C(sp)-H functionalization process. By employing the NiI and AgCO catalytic systems, the method features broad substrate scope with respect to carboxylic acids, including linear alkyl acids, cyclic acids, aryl acids and amino acids.