Novel synthesis of S-alkyl thiocarbamates from amines, carbon monoxide, elemental sulfur, and alkyl halides in the presence of a selenium catalyst

Abstract

Carbonyl selenide easily reacted with elemental sulfur at low temperature to form carbonyl sulfide in a good yield, and reaction of ammonium salts of selenocarbamates with elemental sulfur brought about ready transformation to those of thiocarbamates. On the basis of the high catalytic activity of selenium for carbonylation of amines with carbon monoxide in addition to these important findings, a convenient new method for synthesis of S-alkyl thiocarbamates was developed through the carbonylation of amines with carbon monoxide and elemental sulfur in the presence of a selenium catalyst under mild conditions followed by alkylation of ammonium salts of the thiocarbamates with alkyl halides.