The Curtius Rearrangement is a chemical reaction that involves the conversion of an acyl azide into an isocyanate. This process typically occurs when the azide group is thermally decomposed, leading to the formation of a nitrogen gas and a reactive isocyanate intermediate. The isocyanate can then react with various nucleophiles, allowing for the synthesis of diverse organic compounds. This rearrangement is named after the German chemist Hermann Curtius, who first reported the reaction in the late 19th century. It is particularly useful in organic synthesis for creating compounds with functional groups that can be further modified in subsequent reactions.