Predominantly, carbon atoms of various species function as acceptors of noncovalent interactions when they are part of a π-system. Here, we report on the discovery of a halogen bond involving the isocyano carbon lone pair. The co-crystallization or mechanochemical liquid-assisted grinding of model mesityl isocyanide with four iodoperfluorobenezenes leads to a series of halogen-bonded adducts with isocyanides. The obtained adducts were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state IR and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and also by thermogravimetric analysis. The formation of the halogen bond with the isocyano group leads to a strong reduction of the isocyanide odor (3- to 46-fold gas phase concentration decrease). This manipulation makes isocyanides more suitable for laboratory storage and usage while preserving their reactivity, which is found to be similar between the adducts and the parent isocyanide in some common transformations, such as ligation to metal centers and the multi-component Ugi reaction.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2921
Number of pages10
JournalNature Communications
Volume11
Issue number1
Early online date10 Jun 2020
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2020

    Research areas

  • Crystal engineering, Halogen bonding, Synthetic chemistry methodology, EXPONENT BASIS-SETS, THERMOCHEMISTRY, COMPLEXES, NONCOVALENT INTERACTIONS, ISONITRILES, CHALCOGEN, SOLID-STATE, DENSITY FUNCTIONALS, COMPACT EFFECTIVE POTENTIALS, EFFICIENT

    Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)

ID: 53870608