The first example of the use of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as an organocatalyst for the activation of isocyanides was demonstrated. On the basis of previous reports on the interaction between NHCs and isocyanides, we developed a catalytic cycle involving transient imidoyl intermediate. The reaction of ketones with isocyanides produced the corresponding enaminones with high efficiency. Cont...

The first example of the use of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as an organocatalyst for the activation of isocyanides was demonstrated. On the basis of previous reports on the interaction between NHCs and isocyanides, we developed a catalytic cycle involving transient imidoyl intermediate. The reaction of ketones with isocyanides produced the corresponding enaminones with high efficiency. Cont...

2-Aminobenzothiazoles are readily synthesised from anilines, sulfur monochloride and isocyanides. The key step consists of an iodine-catalysed insertion of isocyanides into the S-S bond of hydrolysed Herz salts, with concomitant extrusion of sulfur monoxide.

Poly(isocyanidcs), ( R N = C < ) n, can be prepared from isocyanidcs, R N += C " , by the catalytic action of nickel(II) compounds. The main chain of these polymers is a rigid helix. This helical conformation results from a restricted rotation around the single bonds that connect the main-chain carbon atoms. Polymerization of achiral isocyanides generally gives a racemic mixture of leftand righ...

The reactive intermediate generated by the addition of tert-butyl and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl butyl isocyanide and cyclohexyl isocyanide to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate was trapped by 3-hydroxy pyridine to produce highly functionalized 4H-chromenes in fairly good  yields.

A robust route to 4-amine-benzo[b][1,4]oxazepines relying upon a palladium-catalyzed tandem reaction of o-aminophenols, bromoalkynes and isocyanides has been developed. This chemistry presumably proceeds through the migratory insertion of isocyanides into the vinyl-palladium intermediate as a key step.

Divergent syntheses of indolizines and 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles by the silver-catalyzed cyclization of 2-pyridyl alkynyl carbinols with isocyanides are reported. These methods provide an effective route to highly functionalized indolizines and 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles in good to excellent yields. The 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles are synthesized by an unprecedented regioselective [3+2] cycload...