Abstract A new preparation and some reactions of organocopper (I) isonitrile complexes are described. In the presence of isonitrile (RNC), some active hydrogen compounds (R'H) react smoothly with Cu 2 O and with metallic copper, evolving H 2 O and hydrogen, respectively, to produce organocopper (I) isonitrile complexes, R'Cu (RNC) 2. The isonitrile insertion and the oxidative coupling by iodine of these complexes are described here.
![diethyl 2-[(tert-butylamino)methylidene]propanedioate Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/142/55274-89-0.png)
![3-[(tert-butylamino)methylidene]pentane-2,4-dione Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/264/53630-82-3.png)