Efficient synthesis of 2-arylamino substituted pyridinyl nitriles by Buchwald-Hartwig amination

Both nitrile and arylamino groups containing pyridine derivatives are synthesized from commercially available nitrile substituted pyridyl chlorides via a palladium–BINAP catalyst (the second generation catalyst for the amination) in moderate to good yields. The mild conditions permit the presence of base sensitive functional groups. Noteably, the halogen atoms linked to the aromatic ring were maintained in the structures of the products under the amination reaction conditions.