A mixed solvent consisting of 0.2 mmol p-iodophenylacetic acid, 0.33 mmol cuprous bromide, 1.0 mL of acetonitrile and DMAc was added to the reactor (volume ratio [2:1]). The reaction was heated to 120 C under oxygen with continuous stirring for 34 h. The reaction was stopped, cooled to room temperature, washed by adding saturated ammonium chloride solution, extracted with ethyl acetate, dried, and the solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, and the crude product was separated by column chromatography to give 4-iodocyanobenzene in 61% yield.
