Traditional 2-electron redox processes are catalyzed by noble metals, which are less desirable with respect to cost and known reserves. Consequently, although titanium prefers to remain in its highest oxidation state (+4), it presents itself as an ideal transition metal for catalysis; it is cheap, highly abundant, and nontoxic. Recently, work within the Tonks group has involved titanium-catalyzed nitrene transfer to alkynes to form pyrroles via a Ti<sup>II/IV</sup> redox cycle. Given the previous success in our group with catalytic nitrene transfer, we sought to utilize our system for nitrene transfer to isocyanides for the formation of carbodiimides. Substrate synthesis, current scope, and proposed mechanistic implications will be discussed.

Utilizing TiII/IV redox catalysis for the synthesis of unsymmetrical carbodiimides

255th National Meeting (2018)

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