Metal-Free Thiocyanation of Imidazoheterocycles through Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

J Org Chem. 2015 Aug 21;80(16):8275-81. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b01369. Epub 2015 Aug 5.

Abstract

A visible light mediated, metal-free process for the thiocyanation of imidazoheterocycles has been developed using eosin Y as a photoredox catalyst under ambient air at room temperature. A library of 3-(thiocyanato)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with broad functionalities have been synthesized in high yields. This methodology is also applicable for the selenocyanation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.