Thiocyanates from aryl halides

In the unconventional synthesis of thioethers (Scheme 4.11), cyanide ion is displaced from thiocyanates by carbanions [52, 53], which have been generated under phase-transfer catalytic conditions (cf. 4.1.12). Thiocyanates are readily obtained by a standard catalysed nucleophilic substitution reaction [4, 54-58] (see Table 4.19). Aryl thiocyanates are obtained from activated aryl halides [4, 57] (see Chapter 2). 

Halide displacement by thioanions such as thioalkoxides, thiocyanate and sulfite, can be readily carried out under PTC conditions in activated arenes. The reaction of nitro- and dinitro-aryl halides with thiophenol and NaOH in the presence of an ammonium or phosphonium salt catalyst proceeds readily in toluene at room temperature to give the phenyl aryl sulfides in nearly quantitative yield.189 Excellent yields of thiocyanoarenes were obtained from the reaction of the 2,4-dinitrohalobenzenes with KSCN in toluene at 90 C with a tetraalkyl onium salt PTC catalyst.190... 

Aryl sulfones have been prepared from sulfinic acid salts, aryl iodides and Formation of thiocyanates from unactivated aryl halides has been accomplished with charcoal supported copper(l) thiocyanate. " The copper catalyzed reaction of Na02SMe and aryl iodides give the aryl methyl sulfone. " A similar synthesis of diaryl sulfones has been reported using a palladium catalyst. " ... 

An improved method for the preparation of nitriles and thiocyanates from halides with benzyltrimethylammonium salts and a convenient preparation of both aliphatic and aromatic nitriles from aldehydes through N,N,N-trimethylhydrazonium salts have been reported. Nitriles can be easily converted into amidines with ammonium halides . Acylisocyanates can be conveniently prepared from amides with oxalyl chloride . A simple preparation of alkyl and aryl carbamates with N-carbonylsulfamic acid... 

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