Overview of heavy cyanate anions studied in our group.
While the chemistry of cyanates is established for almost two centuries now, the use of heavy cyanates beyond the phosphaethynolate anion ([OCP]-) is virtually unexplored. Filling this gap, we focus on the coordination chemistry of heavy cyanates with the general formular [PnCCh]- (Pn = Pnictogen atom (P and As) and Ch = Chalcogen atom (O, S and Se)) towards a large variety of elements of the the periodic table, ranging from p-block, over d-block to f-block elements. The aim is to systematically explore their chemistry across these elements, finding new modes of reactivity, e.g. cycloaddition and bond isomerization reaction. Recent highlights include the isolation of a heavy fulminate anion [SPC]- and the selective [3+2] cycloaddition reaction forming new, and otherwise inaccessible new heterocycles with intriguing properties for coordination chemistry and potential medicine applications.