Synthesis of aromatic nitriles via the temporary complexation of nitroarenes to the cationic cyclopentadienyliron moiety.

Cyanide addition to cyclopentadienyliron complexes of substituted nitroarenes produced nitrile adducts where the cyano group added in the ortho position with respect to the nitro group. Cleavage of the cyclopentadienyliron moiety via oxidative demetalation with DDQ led to the isolation of functionalized aromatic nitriles in good yields