Regioselective ring-opening of aziridines with potassium thiocyanate and thiols using sulfated zirconia as a heterogeneous recyclable catalyst

Ring-opening of aziridines with potassium thiocyanate and thiols has efficiently been carried out at room temperature in the presence of sulfated zirconia to give the corresponding β-aminothiocyanates and β-aminosulfides, respectively, in high yields within 2 h and with high regioselectivity. The catalyst, a solid acid, functions under heterogeneous conditions.