Radical-mediated group-transfer imidoylation with isonitriles

9 Radical-mediated group-transfer imidoylation with isonitriles 

Intensive investigations have been directed recently to group-transfer imidoylation of organotellurium compounds with isonitriles.  

It was found that a variety of stabilized carbon-centred radicals such as glycosyl, benzyl, a-amino, a-alcoxy, a-carbalcoxy and aryl derivatives, generated from the corresponding organotellurium compounds, are effectively trapped by the isonitriles. 

The reactions are normally performed at 100°C with 2 equiv of isonitrile (2,6-xylylisonitrile) in benzene in a Pyrex vessel with UV irradiation (250 W high-pressure Hg lamp). The reactions also work in the dark, but a higher temperature and larger reaction times are required. 

The described imidoylation of a-acyl radicals deserves great interest since a-acyl compounds are not only versatile building blocks but also exhibit several biological activities.  

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