Ultrasound-Assisted Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of t-Alkyl Halides with Zinc and Titanium Thiocyanate

Abstract

Ultrasound promotes nucleophilic substitution of t-alkyl halides with ambident thiocyanate nucleophile, in the form of its zinc or titanium thiocyanate, under mild conditions to afford the corresponding thiocyanates selectively, in good to excellent yields. This improved synthetic methodology affords a facile access to tertiary thiols via the corresponding thiocyanate intermediates.

Keywords:

• Ultrasound
• Nucleophilic substitution
• t-Alkyl halides
• Zinc
• Titanium
• Thiocyanates
• Isothiocyanates
• Thiols

Acknowledgment

BKB is thankful to Council of Scientific and Induatrial Research, New Delhi, India, for the Junior Research Fellowship.