Mild, Efficient, and Metal-Free Radical 1,2-Dithiocyanation of Alkynes and Alkenes at Room Temperature

A transition metal-free process has been reported for 1,2-dithiocyanation of alkynes in the presence of sodium persulfate and potassium thiocyanate reagent combination in a short reaction time under ambient air. Styrene derivatives are equally applicable under the same reaction conditions. Monothiocyanated vinyl derivatives were also synthesized from 2-ethynylpyridine and dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate. The reaction proceeds by the radical/polar pathway as evidenced from our experiments and literature. After removal of the solvent from the reaction mixture by evaporation, the crude product was purified without conventional workup.