Direct transformation of nitriles to cyanide using chloride anion as catalyst.

A simple method is explored for the scission of C-CN bonds into aldehyde and CN in air. The transformation was mediated by chloride anions. The cyanide anions were extracted from the reaction solution to form (EtN)[Zn(CN)] and (EtN)[Ni(CN)]. A chloride-induced reaction mechanism is proposed based on experimental studies and DFT calculations. This work might guide the study of halogen catalysts for C-C bond cleavage.