Interactions of Isonitriles with Metal-Boron Bonds: Insertions, Coupling, Ring Formation, and Liberation of Monovalent Boron.

Boryl, borylene, and base-stabilized borylene complexes of manganese and iron undergo a range of different reactions when treated with isonitriles including single, double, and partial isonitrile insertions into metal−boron bonds, ring formation, isonitrile coupling, and the liberation of new monovalent boron species. Two of the resulting cyclic species have also been found to react selectively with anhydrous HCl to form ring-opened products. The diverse isonitrile-promoted reactivity of transition-metal–boron compounds has been explored computationally.