Silver cyanide allyl isocyanide from

The chemistry of the isocyanides began when, in 1859 Lieke formed allyl isocyanide from allyl iodide and silver cyanide, and when, in 1866 Meyer ° produced in the same way 1-isocyano-l-desoxy-glucose. In 1867, Gautier used this procedure to prepare alkylisocyanides, and Hofmann introduced the formation of isocyanides from primary amines, chloroform, and potassium hydro-xyde. Gautier also tried to prepare an isocyanide by dehydrating an amine formiate via its formylamine using phosphorus pentoxide, but this process produced no isocyanide. Gautier had not yet realized that acidic media destroyed the isocyanides. 

The first isocyanide, allyl isocyanide, was prepared by Lieke in 1859 from allyl iodide and silver cyanide it tainted the air in the room for days and provoked continuing complaints in the neighborhood about the vile odor . At that time it was, however, not noticed that a new distinct class of chemical compounds had been discovered. 

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