Palladium catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid or indole to nitriles: synthesis of aryl ketones

Aryl ketones can be synthesized conveniently by a palladium catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid to nitriles in aqueous triflic acid. This catalytic system was extended to the addition of unprotected indoles to nitriles under a slightly modified condition to produce 3-acyl indoles in good yields.