REACTION OF TETRACYANOCOBALTATE(I) WITH ARYL HALIDES. FORMATION OF ?-ARYLPENTACYANOCOBALTATES AND CYANATION TO ARYL CYANIDES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(83)80225-3

Tetracyanocobaltate(I), which is formed in strongly alkaline solutions of cyanocobaltate under H2 at Cn:Co < 5;1, reacts readily with aryl halides to form ?-arylpentacyanocobaltates(III). 1H and 13C NMR spectra of these new and fairly stable complexes have been determined.In the reactions of some aryl halides, aryl cyanides as well as hydrogenolysis products are formed, and α-bromonaphthalene reacts selectively to give the highest yield of the nitrile.The reactions are explained by a mechanism involving an electron-transfer process.