Isonitrile Syntheses

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Abstract
In spite of the large number of reactions which involve the formation of isonitriles, the only preparative routes to these compounds, until recently, were the classical isonitrile syntheses discovered about one hundred years ago by Gautier and Hofmann. These methods are not generally applicable, and give satisfactory yields only in exceptional cases. Isonitriles have recently become readily available by the elimination of water from N‐substituted formamides, using acyl halides of Group IV–;VI elements in the presence of bases as dehydrating agents. A dehydrating system with a particularly wide range of application consists of phosgene with tertiary amines. This system generally provides the easiest and most productive route to isonitriles, particularly where large quantities (> 1 mole) are to be prepared.

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