Biosynthetic Routes to Natural Isocyanides

Abstract

As intriguing as it may appear, natural products bearing an isocyanide function are well known in different kingdoms of living organisms. An important question in terms of biochemistry is, of course, the origin of such a functional group and the mechanisms that have evolved in biosynthetic pathways to afford the formation of isocyanides. The latest studies dedicated to such endeavours are analysed therein in view of the producing organism metabolisms (e.g. micro‐organisms, marine invertebrates). The in‐situ reactivity of natural isocyanides is also discussed as well as their biological activities.

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