OXIDATIVE DIMERIZATION OF SUBSTITUTED o-METHYLPHENYL ISOCYANIDES; SYNTHESIS OF BIDENTATE BIS-ISONITRILE AND CYCLIC TETRADENTATE TETRAKIS-ISONITRILE LIGANDS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(86)82030-7

Substituted o-methylphenyl isocyanides (1) were oxidatively dimerized via the corresponding o-lithiomethylphenyl isocyanides (2) by means of 1,2-dibromoethane to give 1,2-bis(2-isocyanophenyl)ethane derivatives (3). 1,2-Bis(2-isocyano-3-methylphenyl)ethane (3e), a coupling dimer of 2,6-xylyl isocyanide (1e), was further dimerized via its dilithiated intermediate to give a cyclic tetramer of 2,6-xylyl isocyanide (1e), which may be a cyclic tetradentate ligand for transition metal compounds.