A 13C‐NMR and IR study of isocyanides and some of their complexes

Abstract 13C chemical shifts and 1J(14N13C) coupling constants as well as stretching frequencies of the isocyano group are reported for some representative aliphatic, unsaturated and aromatic isocyanides and for two copper(I) isocyanide complexes. The results are discussed in terms of the inductive and mesomeric substituent effects on the polarisation and charge density of the CNC bonds. The marked solvent effect on the chemical shifts of the isocyano carbon hampers comparison of our data with previously reported data. The hydrogen bonding shift of this carbon in water or methanol is much smaller than previous data suggest.