Lewis Base/Brønsted Acid Cocatalysis for Thiocyanation of Amides and Thioamides.

Lewis base/Brønsted acid cocatalysis for electrophilic thiocyanation of olefins is reported. Using a combination of triphenylphosphine selenide and diphenyl phosphate as a catalyst, a wide range of unsaturated amides and thioamides underwent thiocyanation to furnish thiocyanated thiazoline and oxazoline derivatives in high yields (up to 97%).