Reactions of β-functional phenyl isocyanides

Aspects of the coordination chemistry of beta-functional phenyl isocyanides are reviewed, with emphasis on research involving 2-hydroxyphenyl isocyanide and derivatives thereof, which has been carried out in our Berlin group during the last few years. The driving force of coordinated 2-hydroxyphenyl isocyanide to form carbene complexes with 2,3-dihydrobenzoxazol-2-ylidene ligands depends on the attached metal fragment and can be used as a probe for the pi-electron release ability of the metal center. Related work on N- and C-functional phenyl isocyanides aimed towards the synthesis of 2,3-dihydro1H-imidazol-2-ylidene and 2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-2-ylidene complexes is also described. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.