An exploding N-isocyanide reagent formally composed of anthracene, dinitrogen and a carbon atom

Targeted as an example of a compound composed of a carbon atom together with two stable neutral leaving groups, 7-isocyano7- azadibenzonorbornadiene, CN(2)A (1, A = C14H10 or anthracene) has been synthesized and spectroscopically and structurally characterized. The terminal C atom of 1 can be transferred: mesityl nitrile oxide reacts with 1 to produce carbon monoxide, likely via intermediacy of the N-isocyanate OCN(2)A. Reaction of 1 with [RuCl2(CO)(PCy3)(2)] leads to [RuCl2(CO)(1)(PCy3)(2)] which decomposes unselectively: in the product mixture, the carbide complex [RuCl2(C)(PCy3)(2)] was detected. Upon heating in the solid state or in solution, 1 decomposes to A, N-2 and cyanogen (C2N2) as substantiated using molecular beam mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopy techniques.