Metal–ligand cooperative transformation of alkyl azide to isocyanate occurring at a Co–Si moiety †
Abstract
A cobalt-silyl moiety reveals metal–ligand cooperative group transfer to generate isocyanate from the reaction of alkyl azide and CO. This reaction involves the reversible insertion of a nitrene group into a Co–Si bond. Photolysis leads to ligand substitution of a Co(CO)2 species, allowing the successful catalytic conversion of AdN3 to AdNCO under CO(g).