Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids.

A simple, practical and efficient copper-catalyzed method for synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids has been developed. The protocol uses inexpensive CuI/L-proline as the catalyst/ligand, and readily available aryl halides and malononitrile as the starting materials, and the corresponding aromatic carboxylic acids were obtained in moderate to good yields. The method is of tolerance towards functional groups in the substrates.