Electrosynthesis of <i>S</i>-thiocarbamates with disulfides as a sulfur source

Abstract

An electrochemical oxidative synthesis of <i>S</i>-thiocarbamates by a carbamothioation reaction <i>via</i> a three-component coupling reaction (disulfide, water and isocyanide) is developed, which avoids the use of external oxidants and generates only hydrogen gas as the by-product. With NH₄I as the mediator and electrolyte, the desired <i>S</i>-thiocarbamates were obtained in good yields in an undivided cell at room temperature.