Exploiting the Different Nucleophilicity of the Isocyano Group: A Strategy for the Isocyanide Functionalization

By exploiting the different nucleophilicity of aromatic and aliphatic isocyanides, we selectively react aliphatic isocyano groups while preserving aromatic ones in Passerini and Ugi multicomponent reactions. This simple approach allows the synthesis of alpha-acyloxy carboxamides or alpha-acylamino carboxamides possessing one or two isocyanide groups, which are challenging to achieve through traditional formylation and dehydration protocols. These analogues have the potential to serve as valuable building blocks with diverse applications.