A novel three-component reaction between isocyanides, alcohols or thiols and elemental sulfur: a mild, catalyst-free approach towards O-thiocarbamates and dithiocarbamates

• Main Authors: András György Németh, György Miklós Keserű, Péter Ábrányi-Balogh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beilstein-Institut 2019-07-01
• Series: Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
• Subjects: ditihiocarbamate; elemental sulfur; multicomponent reaction; one-pot; thiocarbamate
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.15.155

A new multicomponent reaction has been developed between isocyanides, sulfur and alcohols or thiols under mild reaction conditions to afford O-thiocarbamates and dithiocarbamates in moderate to good yields. The one-pot reaction cascade involves the formation of an isothiocyanate intermediate, thus a catalyst-free synthesis of isothiocyanates, as valuable building blocks from isocyanides and sulfur is proposed, as well. The synthetic procedure suits the demand of a modern organic chemist, as it tolerates a wide range of functional groups, it is atom economic and easily scalable.