Palladium Catalyzed Direct C3-Cyanation of Indoles Using Acetonitrile as the Cyanide Source

A ligand free palladium catalyzed C3-cyanation of indole via direct C-H functionalization was achieved. This protocol utilizing CH3CN as green and readily available cyanide source obtaining the desired product in moderate to good yield through transition metal catalyzed C-CN bond cleavage.A proposed mechanism was presented.