Hofmann Isonitrile Synthesis

Abstract

The synthesis of isonitriles (also known as isocyanides) from primary amines and chloroform in the presence of alkali and is generally referred to as the Hofmann isonitrile synthesis. This reaction has been applied to test the presence of primary amines from the order of isocyanides. The isonitriles have versatile applications for heterocycles and generate combinatorial libraries in multicomponent reactions, such as that in the Passerini reaction and Ugi reaction. This reaction is found to be useful to convert primary amines into isonitriles.