Simple and quick preparation of α-thiocyanate ketones in hydroalcoholic media. Access to 5-aryl-2-imino-1,3-oxathiolanes

A simple preparation on gram-scale of thiocyanate derivatives via nucleophilic substitution of halogenated compounds with SCN salts at high substrate concentrations in a few minutes and excellent yields was successfully accomplished in hydroalcoholic media. The obtained compounds were employed for the efficient synthesis of valuable 5-aryl-2-imino-1,3-oxathiolane derivatives (a one-pot approach is also presented).