A simple method was developed for selective para-cyanation of alkoxy- and benzyloxy-substituted benzenes with 0.5 equivalents of potassium ferricyanide, 0.8 equivalants of copper(II) nitrate and 0.5 equivalents of iodine in acetonitrile. Among various phenyl carbon-hydrogen bonds, those at the para-position with regard to the alkoxy or benzyloxy groups were selectively cyanated in 20% to 87% yields