Hypervalent iodine(III) promoted synthesis of isothiocyanates in water

Abstract

Here, we have established method for the synthesis of isothiocyanates using diacetoxyiodobenzene as a desulfurizing agent under micellar condition in water. We have explored functional group tolerance under optimized reaction conditions. All electron donating and withdrawing amines carried out the reaction to produce their corresponding desired isothiocyanates 1a–17a in moderate to good yield. This synthetic process in water can be applied to prepare isothiocyanates at gram-scale quantity. Our aqueous micellar medium also demonstrated high reusability as the reaction can be performed for several cycles without losing its efficiency. The reaction is metal-free, utilize water as solvent and practical at room temperature and open flask.