O−CN bond cleavage of cyanates (ROCN) has been achieved at room
temperature in the reaction of ROCN with a methyl Fe, Mo, or W complex. A mechanistic
investigation involving DFT calculations revealed that silyl migration from Mo to the CN
nitrogen gave an N-silylated η2-imidato Mo complex. This intermediate analogue was isolated
and characterized by X-ray analysis. Catalytic O−CN bond cleavage was achieved using
Cp(CO)3MoMe under thermal conditions.