Cyanate

The cyanate ion is an isomer of the much-less-stable fulminate anion, CNO− or [C−≡N+−O−].

(Or more completely as :Ö̤−C≡N: ↔ Ö̤=C=N̤̈ ↔ :O≡C−N̤̈:) The infrared spectrum of a cyanate salt has a band at ca.

Both the oxygen and nitrogen atoms carry a lone pair of electrons and either one, the other, or both can be donated to Lewis acid acceptors.

[3] It is made industrially by heating a mixture of sodium carbonate and urea.

Thus, the silver cyanato complex, [Ag(NCO)2]−, has a linear structure as shown by X-ray crystallography.

O-Bonding has been suggested for complexes of the type [M(OCN)6]n−, M = Mo(III), Re(IV), and Re(V).

The yellow complex Rh(PPh3)3(NCO) and orange complex Rh(PPh3)3(OCN) are linkage isomers and show differences in their infrared spectra which can be used for diagnosis.

In nucleophilic substitution reactions cyanate usually forms an isocyanate.