Renaissance of Organic Synthesis Using Isocyanides

New reactions using old functionality, isocyanides, are described. By using isocyanides in place of carbon monoxide, transformations otherwise difficult to achieve, such as GaCl3-catalyzed [4 + I] cycloaddition and TfOH-catalyzed insertion into a C-O bond of acetals, are realized. In addition, isocyanides are exploited as a key component in transition-metal-catalyzed C H bond activation and borylation reactions.