Studies on isocyanides and related compounds. N,N'-disubstituted 2-cyanoacetoxy-2-cyanomethylmalondiamides from an unusual reaction between isocyanides from an unusual reaction between isocyanides and cyanoacetic acid

摘要

The reaction between cyanoacetic acid 1 and isocyanides 2 afforded the unexpected N,N'-disubstituted 2-cyanoacetoxy-2-cyanomethylmalondiamides 3 which were easily cleaved in very mild conditions to the corresponding 2-hydroxy derivatives 4. The structure of compound 4a was confirmed by X-ray analysis. A hypothesis for the mechanism of formation of compounds 3 is presented.