GaCl3-catalyzed reactions utilizing isocyanides as a C1 source

Two GaCl3-catalyzed reactions, which utilize isocyanides as a one-carbon unit, are described: a [4+1] cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with isocyanides, and an insertion reaction of isocyanides into a C-O bond of ketals and acetals. The relatively low affinity of GaCl3 toward heteroatoms enables the successful catalysis.