Isocyanides

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of organic compounds containing a -N≡C functional group, typically known for their toxic properties and ability to react with various nucleophiles
2. These compounds are characterized by a carbon atom triple-bonded to nitrogen, which can exhibit important reactions in organic synthesis
3. Often recognized in the context of industrial chemistry, isocyanides can function as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals

Etymology: The plural "isocyanides" simply follows the singular "isocyanide", which is built from two parts: "iso-", from Ancient Greek "ísos" meaning "equal", and "cyanide". The "iso-" prefix in chemistry signals that a compound has the same atoms as another but arranged differently, and here it marks the isocyanide group as a structural rearrangement of the cyanide group. In the -N≡C arrangement, the nitrogen sits where the carbon sits in a cyanide, so these compounds are isomers of nitriles, which is why the name pairs the two.