Reaction of N-fluoropyridinium fluoride with isonitriles: a convenient route to picolinamides

Reaction of N-fluoropyridinium fluoride generated in situ with a series of isonitriles led to the formation of the corresponding picolinamides in good yields. A similar reaction sequence for quinoline yielded the respective derivatives of 2-quinoline carboxylic acid. The proposed reaction mechanism involves the intermediate formation of a highly reactive carbene species.