Copper-catalyzed cyanation of disulfides by azobisisobutyronitrile leading to thiocyanates

Abstract

The copper-catalyzed cyanation of disulfides by azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was developed, leading to thiocyanates in moderate to good yields. This procedure tolerates a series of functional groups, such as chloro, nitro, methyl and methoxycarbonyl in the phenyl ring of disulfides. Notably, it enables the use of two ArS units in (ArS)₂. CuI was found to be essential for the in situ formation of cyanide anions.