Copper-catalyzed N-Arylation of the Adduct of Malononitrile and Trichloroacetonitrile

The synthesis of a novel class of trichloro-1-{(N-arylamino)ethylidene}malononitrile via a copper-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of malononitrile-trichloroacetonitrile adduct and aryl halides in good yields is described. The reported protocol has some advantages such as simple and mild procedure, easy work-up, no column chromatography, available starting materials-catalyst, pure products and good to high yields.