Sonochemical switching of reaction pathways in slid–liquid two-phase reactions

Ultrasonic irradiation of a mixture of benzyl bromide, potassium cyanide, and alumina in an aromatic solvent yields benzyl cyanide, whereas mechanical agitation gives the Friedel–Crafts type product; sonication changes the main reaction pathway from aromatic electrophilic to aliphatic nucleophilic substitution.