Alkylation of arylacetonitriles with potassium chloroacetate proceeds selectively leading to 3-cyano-3-arylpropionic acids, which are directly hydrolyzed to arylsuccinic acids.
The titanium(III)-induced decomposition of substituted benzenediazonium salts in the presence of maleic and furamic acids, alkyl esters, amides, and nitriles gives the corresponding arylsuccinic acid derivatives.