Chromium-Promoted Dearomative (deutero)hydrocyanoalkylation of (hetero)arenes Using Simple Alkylnitriles

Herein, a general strategy for the regioselective dearomative 1,2-hydrocyanoalkylation of chromium-bound (hetero)arenes with simple alkylnitriles as pronucleophiles was disclosed, providing rapid access to 1,3-cyclohexadienes possessing useful alkylnitrile groups. The versatility of this methodology further enabled a selective dearomative deuteration reaction. Finally, synthetic applications of the method in the formal synthesis of natural products, including erysotramidine, demethoxyerythratidinone, and morphine, were demonstrated.