Direct Synthesis of Isothiocyanates from Isonitriles by Molybdenum-Catalyzed Sulfur Transfer with Elemental Sulfur
摘要:
The direct molybdenum-catalyzed sulfuration of a variety of isonitriles with elemental sulfur or propene sulfide as sulfur donors affords the corresponding isothiocyanates in good yields and under mild reaction conditions. A catalytic cycle is suggested, in which the molybdenum oxo disulfur complex operates as the active sulfur-transferring species. A novel adduct between the isonitrile and the molybdenum complex has been characterized by X-ray analysis and its association constant determined by UV-vis spectroscopy, but this adduct appears not to be involved in the sulfur-transfer process.
Rhodium complexes RhH(PPh3)(4) and Rh(acac)(CH2=CH2)(2) catalyze sulfuration of isonitrile with sulfur giving isothiocyanates in high yields. The metal-catalyzed reaction is rapid in refluxing acetone, and completes within 3 h in most cases. The reaction exhibits induction period, which disappeared by preheating sulfur in refluxing acetone for 1.5 h. Use of several organic polysulfides in this transformation was examined in order to compare the reactivity. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.