Nitrogen Dioxide Catalyzed Oxidative Thiocyanation of Arenes with Ambient Air as the Terminal Oxidant

NO2 is an effective catalyst for the oxidative thiocyanation of arenes. This unique catalyst is inexpensive and separated easily from the final products because of its low boiling point. The mild reaction conditions allow a series of arenes and thiophenes to be thiocyanated smoothly in moderate to high yields. A preliminary mechanistic investigation suggests that the present reaction may proceed through a radical pathway.