Direct α-thiocyanation of carbonyl and β-dicarbonyl compounds using potassium peroxydisulfate–copper(II)

A convenient approach for the direct α-thiocyanation of carbonyl and β-dicarbonyl compounds has been developed using ammonium thiocyanate as the thiocyanating agent and potassium peroxydisulfate as the oxidant in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper(II) sulfate in aqueous acetonitrile. The catalyst and oxidizing agent used in the reaction are inexpensive and provide good to excellent yields.