Catalyst‐Free Cyanation of Arenes by Acetonitrile in a Plasma–Liquid Microreactor
Abstract
A catalyst‐free direct C‐H cyanation of arenes was performed in continuous flow by treating aromatic substrates in acetonitrile with an argon plasma in a gas–liquid microreactor under ambient conditions. The reactivity of the different radicals generated through plasma activation of acetonitrile was probed using benzene as a model substrate, producing benzonitrile in a 25% yield. Mechanistic insights derived from kinetic modeling and isotopic labeling experiments enabled the proposal of a reaction pathway accounting for the formation of the main nitrile products. Expanding the substrate scope demonstrated consistent nitrile formation aligned with the mechanistic hypothesis. This catalyst‐free direct C‐H cyanation of arenes using an accessible and low‐toxicity nitrile source highlights the promising role of plasma activation as an alternative tool for organic transformations.
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BibTeX
@article{dedieu2026catalystfree,
title = {{Catalyst‐Free Cyanation of Arenes by Acetonitrile in a Plasma–Liquid Microreactor}},
author = {Pierre Dedieu and Gabriel Morand and Stéphanie Ognier and Alain Favre-Réguillon and Michael Tatoulian},
journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1002/chem.71101},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05751700v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Catalyst‐Free Cyanation of Arenes by Acetonitrile in a Plasma–Liquid Microreactor
AU - Pierre Dedieu
AU - Gabriel Morand
AU - Stéphanie Ognier
AU - Alain Favre-Réguillon
AU - Michael Tatoulian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/13
JO - Chemistry - A European Journal
DO - 10.1002/chem.71101
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05751700v1
AB - A catalyst‐free direct C‐H cyanation of arenes was performed in continuous flow by treating aromatic substrates in acetonitrile with an argon plasma in a gas–liquid microreactor under ambient conditions. The reactivity of the different radicals generated through plasma activation of acetonitrile was probed using benzene as a model substrate, producing benzonitrile in a 25% yield. Mechanistic insights derived from kinetic modeling and isotopic labeling experiments enabled the proposal of a reaction pathway accounting for the formation of the main nitrile products. Expanding the substrate scope demonstrated consistent nitrile formation aligned with the mechanistic hypothesis. This catalyst‐free direct C‐H cyanation of arenes using an accessible and low‐toxicity nitrile source highlights the promising role of plasma activation as an alternative tool for organic transformations.
SN - 0947-6539
SN - 1521-3765
ER -