para-Selective C-H amidation of simple arenes with nitriles

Abstract

A para-selective C-H amidation of simple arenes with nitriles has been developed. By increasing the amount of arenes, a further meta-selective C-H arylation of the produced amides occurred. Both steric and electronic effects are utilized to control the selectivity, resulting in only para-selective amidation products. The readily available nitriles as amidation reagents instead of amides makes the synthesis of N-arylamides more accessible