title: Catalytic coupling of terminal alkynes with isonitriles promoted by organoactinide complexes.
abstract: The coupling reaction of terminal alkynes and tert-butylisonitrile to yield substituted alpha,beta-acetylenic aldimines is catalyzed by the organoactinide neutral complexes Cp*2AnMe2 (Cp* = C5Me5, An = Th, U) and the cationic complex [(Et2N)3U][BPh4]. The reaction proceeds by a 1,1-insertion of the isonitrile into the metal-acetylide bond. Additional insertion products can be obtained by altering the catalyst and the reactant ratios. A plausible mechanism for the catalytic reaction is presented, in addition to the crystal structure of Cp*2UMe2
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute of Catalysis Science and Technology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnea
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andrea
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapon
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Berthet
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ephritikhine
authors.forename: Moris S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Eisen