Trifluoromethylisocyanide is the chemical compound with the formula CF₃NC. It is an

isocyanide An isocyanide (also called isonitrile or carbylamine) is an organic compound with the functional group –. It is the isomer of the related nitrile (–C≡N), hence the prefix is ''isocyano''.IUPAC Goldboo''isocyanides''/ref> The organic fragme ...

and a fluorocarbon. Polymerisation occurs even at temperatures below its boiling point of −80 °C. As a

ligand In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule ( functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's elec ...

in coordination chemistry, this species behaves similarly to

carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is a colorless, poisonous, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the simple ...

. The compound trifluoracetonitrile (CF₃CN) is an isomer to trifluoromethylisocyanide. The nitrile is more stable, as is the usual case.

References

{{reflist Isocyanides Trifluoromethyl compounds