Direct Synthesis of Biphenyl-2-carbonitriles by Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Hiyama Cross-Coupling in Water.

This method represents an efficient rhodium(III)-catalyzed o-C-H arylation of readily available benzimidate derivatives with diverse arylsilanes in water as a sustainable solvent, enabling the straightforward synthesis of potentially useful biphenyl-2-carbonitrile derivatives. This silicon-based protocol employs benzimidates as both an efficacious directing group and the source of a nitrile group.