Chemistry of hydrogen isocyanide. Part 1. Reactions of [M(CO)5(CNH)](MCr or W) with epoxides

Abstract

The hydrogen Isocyanide complexes [M (CO)₅(CNH)](M Cr or W) have been treated with a total of eleven epoxides to give 2-hydroxyalkyl Isocyanide or oxazolin-2-ylidene complexes, respectively. In general, regiospecific ring opening occurred except with 2,2-dimethyloxirane which gave rise to a mixture of regioisomers. The silyl derivatives [M(CO)₅(CNSiMe₃)](M = Cr or W) react similarly. I.r.,¹H n.m.r.,¹³C n.m.r., and mass spectra of the new compounds are reported and discussed.