developed. A series of 2′-iodobiaryl-2-carbonitriles were synthesized from substituted biphenylcarbonitriles and naphthylbenzonitriles in reasonably good yields by using bis(pyridine)iodonium(I) tetrafluoroborate (IPy2BF4, Barluenga's reagent) and HBF4·OEt2. The biaryl-2-carbonitriles are useful precursors for the synthesis of benzocyclic ketones.