Advancements in copper-catalyzed thiocyanation: an update

Abstract

Copper has become a valuable catalyst in organic synthesis owing to its abundance, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. Its capacity to shuttle between oxidation states, engage with heteroatoms, and activate terminal alkynes underpins a wide spectrum of bond-forming processes, including C–C, C–N, C–O, and C–S couplings. Thiocyanate, meanwhile, offers a versatile entry point to diverse functional groups such as aryl nitriles, thiocarbamates, thionitriles, and sulfides. Derivatives bearing thiocyanate units are frequently found in pharmaceuticals, natural products, and other biologically active molecules, where they display notable anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-cancer activity. Bringing these two together, copper catalysis provides an effective platform for thiocyanation, taking advantage of both the metal's reactivity and the synthon's adaptability. This review summarizes the strategies developed for copper-catalyzed thiocyanation and provides an overview of advances reported in the literature to date.