Transition-metal-free regioselective thiocyanation of phenols, anilines and heterocycles

Dual ipso-hydroxylation and para-C-H chalcogenation of arylboronic acids using an NDI photocatalyst in visible light

We report a dual ipso-hydroxylation and para-C-H chalcogenation of arylboronic acids using NDI-PC as a photocatalyst in visible light. para-Selective C-H thiocyanation, selenocyanation, thiophenylation, and selenophenylation of phenols, generated in situ from arylboronic acids, has been achieved via a photoredox process in the presence of air as the oxidant. This method is transition-metal free, sustainable, and gives the products in moderate to high yields at room temperature.

Electrophilic glycoluril-based reagents for atom-economic thiocyanation and selenocyanation of (hetero)arenes

Two electrophilic glycoluril-based N-XCN reagents (X = S, Se) were developed for introducing SCN/SeCN groups into aromatic substrates, including the late-stage modification of bioactive molecules. Their application produces minimal waste, enables simple purification, and offers potential for reagent regeneration. Additionally, their compatibility with green solvents and flow technology was demonstrated. The sustainability of the process was evaluated using green metrics and Ecoscale values, emphasizing the complementary roles of the reagents and solvent recovery in enhancing atom economy and reducing waste.

Chemically engineered essential oils prepared through thiocyanation under solvent-free conditions: chemical and bioactivity alteration

The generation of chemically engineered essential oils (CEEOs) prepared from bi-heteroatomic reactions using ammonium thiocyanate as a source of bioactive compounds is described. The impact of the reaction on the chemical composition of the mixtures was qualitatively demonstrated through GC-MS, utilizing univariate and multivariate analysis. The reaction transformed most of the components in the natural mixtures, thereby expanding the chemical diversity of the mixtures. Changes in inhibition properties between natural and CEEOs were demonstrated through acetylcholinesterase TLC autography, resulting in a threefold increase in the number of positive events due to the modification process. The chemically engineered Origanum vulgare L. essential oil was subjected to bioguided fractionation, leading to the discovery of four new active compounds with similar or higher potency than eserine against the enzyme. The results suggest that the directed chemical transformation of essential oils can be a valuable strategy for discovering new acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors.

Green metrics in mechanochemistry

The development of new green methodologies and their broader adoption for promoting sustainable development in chemistry laboratories and industry play a significant role in society, due to the economic importance of chemistry and its widespread presence in everyday life. Therefore, a sustainable approach to chemistry contributes to the well-being of the worldwide population and complies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the European Green Deal. The review highlights how batch and continuous mechanochemical methods are an eco-friendly approach for organic synthesis, with a lower environmental footprint in most cases, compared to solution-based procedures. The assessment is objectively based on the use of green metrics (e.g., atom and real atom economy, E-factor, process mass intensity, material parameter recovery, Eco-scale, stoichiometric factor, etc.) and indicators (e.g. DOZN tool and life cycle assessment, LCA, studies) applied to organic transformations such as synthesis of the amide bond, carbamates, heterocycles, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), porphyrins, porous organic polymers (POPs), metal- or acid-catalysed processes, multicomponent and condensation reactions, rearrangements, etc. The generalized absence of bulk solvents, the precise control over the stoichiometry (i.e., using agents in a stoichiometrically rather than in excess), and the more selective reactions enabling simplified work-up procedures are the distinctive factors, marking the superiority of mechanochemical processes over solution-based chemistry.

Photochemical Csp2-H bond thiocyanation and selenocyanation of activated arenes, batch and continuous-flow approaches

Herein, we report an eco-friendly photochemical oxidative C_sp²-H thiocyanation and selenocyanation of activated arenes. The reaction proceeds under Violet LED irradiation in the presence of K₂S₂O₈, which quickly oxidizes KSCN and KSeCN, finally producing arylthio/selenocyanates. Using this benign, atom-economic protocol, the desired chalcogenide products were obtained regioselectively, with isolated yields that range from very good to excellent. Although, mechanistic study indicates that it is difficult to distinguish between a radical to a S_EAr reaction mechanism between the photo-induced formed ^•SCN, for the former, or NCSSCN, for the latter, to the aromatic heterocycles. The inhibition experiment together with the observed reactivity and regioselectivity, would be in agreement with the latter. The synthetic methodology designed could be successfully adapted to continuous-flow systems in a segmented-flow regime, employing the organic phase as the product reservoir. Using this setup, the advantage of the latter can be demonstrated by reducing the reaction time and improving the product yields. Similarly, the scaling up of the reaction to gram scale resulted in favorable outcomes by the flow setup, which installs the photo-flow chemistry as a powerful tool to be included into routine reaction procedures, which have great relevance for the pharmaceutical industry.

Selective electrochemical para-thiocyanation of aromatic amines under metal-, oxidant- and exogenous-electrolyte-free conditions

An electrochemical oxidative para-C-H-thiocyanation of aromatic amines has been developed to construct thiocyanato aromatic compounds under metal-, oxidant-, and exogenous-electrolyte-free conditions in an undivided cell. The transformation is compatible with a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines and shows good functional group tolerance. This approach provides an economical and environmentally benign way for para-thiocyanation of aromatic amines.

Electrooxidation Is a Promising Approach to Functionalization of Pyrazole-Type Compounds

The review summarizes for the first time the poorly studied electrooxidative functionalization of pyrazole derivatives leading to the C-Cl, C-Br, C-I, C-S and N-N coupling products with applied properties. The introduction discusses some aspects of aromatic hydrogen substitution. Further, we mainly consider our works on effective synthesis of the corresponding halogeno, thiocyanato and azo compounds using cheap, affordable and environmentally promising electric currents.

NBS-assisted palladium-catalyzed bromination/cross-coupling reaction of 2-alkynyl arylazides with KSCN: an efficient method to synthesize 3-thiocyanindoles

An efficient NBS-assisted palladium-catalyzed bromination/cross-coupling synthesis of 3-thiocyanindoles from 2-alkynyl arylazides with KSCN has been described.

One-pot synthesis of 2-chloro-2-thio/selenocyanato ketones from β-keto acids

The chlorothiocyanato difunctionalization reaction has been achieved, and a variety of α-chlorothio/selenocyanato difunctional ketones are synthesized through one-pot strategy from β-keto acids.

Mechanochemical Thiocyanation of Aryl Compounds via C-H Functionalization

Aryl thiocyanate compounds are important building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive compounds and intermediates for several functional groups. Reported thiocyanation reactions via C-H functionalization have limited substrate scope and low RME. The ball-milling method reported here uses ammonium persulfate and ammonium thiocyanate as reagents and silica as a grinding auxiliary. It afforded aryl thiocyanates with moderate to excellent yields for a wide variety of aryl compounds (36 examples, 8-96% yield), such as anilines, phenols, anisoles, thioanisole, and indole, thus tolerating substrates with sensitive functional groups. New products such as benzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-2-ones were obtained with C-4 substituted phenols. Thus, to our knowledge, we report, for the first time, aryl thiocyanation reaction by ball-milling at room temperature and solvent-free conditions, with short reaction times and no workup. Analysis of several mass-based green metrics indicates that it is an efficient greener method.

A Review on Thiocyanation of Indoles

BACKGROUND

The thiocyanation of indoles is a direct way for carbon-sulfur bond formation to access 3-thiocyanato-indoles. 3-thiocyanato-indoles exhibit potent biological and pharmacological activities and also serve as building blocks to synthesize many biologically active sulfur-containing indole derivatives.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to highlight different approaches for the thiocyanation of indoles focusing on its scope and mechanism.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we have summarized various methods for the thiocyanation of indoles. Selection of new methods for the preparation of 3-thiocyanato-indoles will be done. The mechanistic aspects and significance of the methods are also briefly discussed.

An Efficient Selectfluor-Mediated Oxidative Thio- and Selenocyanation of Diversely Substituted Indoles and Carbazoles

A facile Selectfluor-mediated oxidative method for direct introduction of SCN and SeCN groups into diversely substituted indoles and carbazoles is described, by employing readily available thiocyanate and selenocyanate salts, and the scope of the method is underscored by providing 24 examples. The feasibility to sequentially introduce SCN followed by SeCN on a carbazole framework and to synthesize the corresponding S-tetrazole and Se-tetrazole derivatives is also demonstrated.

Creation of thio and selenocyanate derivatives of 4-quinolone via regioselective C–H bond functionalization under ambient conditions

An operationally simple C–SCN and C–SeCN bond formation technique to generate different SCN/SeCN substituted 4-quinolone derivatives using NH₄SCN/KSeCN in excellent yields was developed.

N-Thiocyanatosaccharin: A "Sweet" Electrophilic Thiocyanation Reagent and the Synthetic Applications

N-Thiocyanatosaccharin (R₁) was readily prepared from the sweet additive Saccharin in two steps with a 71% overall yield. By applying this new reagent to diverse nucleophiles such as benzothiophenes, indoles, oxindoles, aromatic amines, phenols, β-keto carbonyl compounds, and aromatic ketones, a novel electrophilic thiocyanation reaction was achieved with high yields (up to 99%). The potential recycling of Saccharin, the wide scope of substrates, and the mild reaction conditions made this protocol much more practical.

A low-cost electrochemical thio- and selenocyanation strategy for electron-rich arenes under catalyst- and oxidant-free conditions

A low-cost and efficient thio- and selenocyanation strategy for electron-rich arenes has been developed under constant-current electrolytic conditions in an undivided cell without the use of any catalyst or oxidant.

Iodine-mediated regio- and stereoselective iodothiocyanation of alkynes in aqueous ethanol

Iodothiocyanation of alkynes with ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) and molecular iodine (I₂) has been described under transition-metal-free conditions in green aqueous ethanol. A series of β-iodo vinylthiocyanates were obtained from functional alkynes in good to excellent isolated yields. The synthetic protocol has the advantages of operational simplicity, broad substrate scope, good stereo-selectivity, the use of easily available starting materials.