Selective formation of formamidines, carbodiimides and formimidates from isocyanide complexes of Mn(I) mediated by Ag2O

The isocyanide ligands in complexes fac-[Mn(CNR)(bipy)(CO)3]+ are selectively transformed into formamidines, carbodiimides and formimidates upon nucleophilic addition of NH2Me or alkoxides and subsequent treatment with Ag2O, which promotes tautomerization or oxidation processes of the former carbene ligands.