The new Synthetic Method for Alkyl isothiocyanates

Abstract

Alkyl isothiocyanates were obtained in favorable yield by the reaction of diarsenic trioxide with monoalkylamine and carbon disulfide in molar ratio 1 : 3 : 3. When lead (II) oxide instead of diarsenic trioxide was used in this reaction, lead (II) dithiocarbonimidates were formed in high yield, which on standing or on heating gave pure isothiocyanates. Further, it was found that alkyl isothiocyanates were formed in good yield by the reaction of triethylammonium dithiocarbonimidate with arsenic trichloride. From these results, a new mechanism for the formation of alkyl isothiocyanates in the present process was proposed.