Description
tert-Butyl isocyanide is a key regent for synthesizing many heterocycles and can undergo many cyclization reactions1. It is a colorless liquid, with a strong smell, bench-stable, and soluble in most organic solvents, including methanol, ethanol, ether, toluene, and dichloromethane. Many combinations of 5-member heterocycles with C, N, S, and O atoms, and even boron-containing cycles can be done via [4+1] cycloaddition. Except for heterocyclization, the reagent can be used as a mild esterification reagent, especially in the chemistry of β-lactam antibiotics, penicillins, and cephalosporins. The Passerini reaction with α-geminal polyhalogenated aldehydes allows easy esterification of such intricate substrates.
Uses
tert-Butyl isocyanide is used in a tin-free procedure for alkyl radical reactions in the presence of a free-radical initiator. It is a useful intermediate in multicomponent reactions. It is also used in the synthesis of coumarines, 4H-chromenes, isoxazolines and to trap 2-cyclopropylidene-1,3-diones.