Phenylacetonitriles have been widely known as important intermediates in organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. How to synthesize some privileged structures or bioactive molecules using these simple molecules in a simple manner is not only attractive but also challenging.

The present methods for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes and 2-dimethylamino-benzo[b]thiophenes, which are important building blocks and derivatives of benzo[b]thiophenes, generally could not circumvent the disgusting smell, harsh reaction conditions, low yields and complicated or tedious procedures. Recently, Yang and co-workers reported a new strategy for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes and 2-dimethylamino-benzo[b]thiophenes from o-bromophenylacetonitriles on Organic Letters. The reactions were catalyzed by a combination of Pd(dppf)Cl2 and dppf using odorless and cheap Na2S2O3 as the sulfur source. This strategy allowed us to synthesize important benzo[b]thiophene scaffold more efficiently and conveniently.
（The link to the article: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ol502381e ）

In addition, Yang’s group did a lot of research on the application of phenylacetonitriles, including the synthesis of a series of privileged structures in medicinal chemistry such as chromene (Heterocycles, 2011, 83, 1355), naphthalenes, quinolines, and isoquinolines (Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2012, 33, 6622), dibenzo[b, f]oxepins (Helv. Chim. Acta, 2013, 96, 296), indenones(Org. Biomol. Chem. 2013, 11, 2582), etc. What’s more, the further research on the synthesis of antitumor agents such as α-carbolines (Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014, 12, 355), 2-aminobenzo[b]furans (RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 358), pyrido[3,2-α]carbazoles (Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2013, 66, 531) with phenylacetonitriles was also finished in Yang’s lab.