Ironcyclopentadienyl mediated 2-alkyl-2-arylphenylsulphonylacetonitrile synthesis

A unique route to the synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylphenylsulphonylacetonitriles via the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) of chloroarene cyclopentadienyliron complexes with 2-alkyl phenylsulphonylacetonitriles has been investigated. Reactions of chloroarene complexes (1a–d) with 2-alkyl phenylsulphonylacetonitrile (2a,b) in the presence of K2CO3 in DMF at room temperature led to the formation of complexes 3a–d and 4a,c,d in good yields. The use of alkylated phenylsulphonylacetonitriles as nucleophiles in the reactions with the p-dichlorobenzene complex (1e) allowed the formation of the disubstituted complexes (5,6). Photolytic demetallation provided an efficient route to the liberation of the arylated phenylsulphonylacetonitriles 7a–d, 8a,c,d, 9, and 10. Keywords: chloroarene, phenylsulphonylacetonitrile, nucleophilic substitution.