Sulfite-Promoted Synthesis of N-Difluoromethylthioureas via the Reaction of Azoles with Bromodifluoroacetate and Elemental Sulfur

A sulfite-promoted transformation of azoles into N-difluoromethylthioureas through N-difluoromethylation and sulfuration has been developed. In this reaction, inexpensive ethyl bromodifluoroacetate and nontoxic elemental sulfur were used as the difluoromethylation and sulfuration reagents, respectively. A variety of azoles, including benzimidazoles, imidazoles, and triazoles, performed well to afford a broad range of azole thioureas in moderate to good yields.