Room temperature sodium metal reductions of alkyl isocyanates lead to the rapid electron-initiated formation of alkyl isocyanurate anion radicals, which exhibit EPR coupling to only two equivalent nitrogens. Reduction of (13)C-enriched ethyl isocyanate reveals that the odd electron localizes in the pi system of one carbonyl in the isocyanurate ring. EPR line-width alternation effects indicate that at least two stable conformers are in rapid equilibrium undergoing fast exchange.

The solution phase alkali metal reduction of [8]annulenyl isocyanate (C8H7NCO) yields an EPR spectrum, which reveals electron couplings to seven protons and only one nitrogen. Although this strongly suggested that the C8H7NCO anion radical was generated, experiments on the oxidized product reveal the actual reduced species to be tris-[8]annulenyl isocyanurate. Unlike the previously studied phenyl isocyanurate anion radical, the unpaired electron(s) is now localized within an [8]annulenyl moiety. Further exposure to metal results in the formation of an equilibrium mixture of trianion triradical and trianion radical species. The cyclotrimerization to form the isocyanurate is proposed to be driven by a reactive C8H7NCO dianion, which is produced from the large equilibrium disproportionation of the anion radical. Exhaustive reduction of the tris-[8]annulenyl isocyanurate with potassium in THF generates the first-ever observed hexa-anion of an isocyanurate. NMR analysis reveals that the polarity of the carbonyl bonds within this hexa-anion is augmented and is caused by the close proximity of K(+) ions, which are tightly ion paired to the three [8]annulenyl dianion rings. These preliminary studies on the reduction of C8H7NCO suggest that polymeric materials (e.g., polyisocyanates) made from this isocyanate might exhibit unique properties.