Lithium enamides, β-diketiminates and 1,3-diazaallyls from the 1:1 insertion of an isonitrile into the Li–C bond of LiCH(SiMe3)2†‡

Abstract

The diverse behaviour of LiCHR₂ A towards an isonitrile R′NC is unravelled; depending on reaction conditions and choice of R′, the product was an enamide Li[N(R′)C(R)C(H)R](tmen), a β-diketiminate Li[N(R′)C(R)C(H)C(R)N(R′)], a 1,3-diazaallyl (with additionally PhCN) Li[N(Ph)C(R)NC(Ph)C(H)R](tmen) or a 1:1 adduct of A and Li[N(R′)C(R)C(H)C(R)N(R′)](CNR′) (R′ = Bu^t), (R = SiMe₃, tmen = Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂ and R′ = Bu^t, Ph or C₆H₃Me₂-2,6).