Process for the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives

A one-step, one-pot process for the synthesis of carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivatives comprising the steps of:

• a. stirring the solution of 0.9-1.1 equivalent aryl halides in dimethylformamide (DMF) optionally in the presence of 0.9-1.3 equivalent nucleophile followed by addition of 1.0-1.2 equivalent sodium cyanide and 10-20 mol % of 1, 10-phenanthroline and 5-25 mol % of copper bromide;
• and
• b. quenching the reaction mixture of step (a) to obtain carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivatives,
• wherein the nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of water, phenol, 4-nitro-phenol, 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, aniline, 2-chloro-aniline, 4-methoxy-aniline, and 2-chloro-benzylamine.