Pd-Metalated Conjugated Nanoporous Polycarbazoles for Additive-Free Cyanation of Aryl Halides: Boosting Catalytic Efficiency through Spatial Modulation

Transition-metal-catalyzed cyanation of aryl halides is a common route to benzonitriles, which are integral to many industrial procedures. However, traditional homogeneous catalysts for such processes are expensive and suffer poor recyclability, so a heterogeneous analogue is highly desired. A novel spatial modulation approach has been developed to fabricate a heterogeneous Pd-metalated nanoporous polymer, which catalyzes the cyanation of aryl halides without need for ligands. The catalyst displays high activity in the synthesis of benzonitriles, including high product yields, excellent stability and recycling, and broad functional-group tolerance.