Recent Developments of Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Nitriles and Alcohols

Cross‐coupling of nitriles and alcohols offers an environmentally friendly and atom‐economical method for the synthesis of various valuable compounds. These compounds include α ‐alkylated and α ‐olefinated nitriles, primary amines, imines, N ‐alkylation amines, amides, N ‐heterocycles, δ ‐hydroxynitriles, olefins, etc . Herein, we have reviewed recent developments (from 2013–date) of transition‐metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of nitriles and alcohols. A number of transition metal complexes such as noble metals Ru and Ir, as well as base metals Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni are presented. Moreover, different product types, reaction conditions and mechanisms are discussed to understand the reaction and catalyst development.