β-Elimination of the isonitrile group in alkylation reactions of C–H acids activated by the isonitrile function

Abstract

During phase-transfer alkylation of the isonitriles R¹R²CHNC with X–CH₂–Y, where X is a leaving group and Y an electron withdrawing group, some of the alkylation products undergo β-elimination of the isonitrile function to yield R¹R²CCHY.