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Abstract
C≡N bond scission accomplished by protonation, reductive cleavage and metathesis techniques are well-known to execute nitrogen transfer reactions. Herein, we have conducted an extensive computational study, using DFT and molecular dynamics simulations, to unravel the mechanistic pathways traversed in CuCN and CuBr2 promoted splitting of coordinated cyanide anion under a dioxygen atmosphere, which enables nitrogen transfer to various aldehydes. Our detailed electronic structure analysis using ab initio multi-reference CASSCF calculations reveal that both the promoters facilitate radical pathways, in agreement with the experimental findings. This is a unique instance of oxygen activation initiated by single electron transfer from the nitrile carbon, while the major driving force is the operation of the CuII/I redox cycle. Our study reveals that the copper salts act as the “electron pool” in this unique nitrogen transfer reaction forming aryl nitrile from aryl aldehydes.
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