In organic chemistry, isothiocyanate is a functional group as found in compounds with the formula R–N=C=S. Isothiocyanates are the more common isomers of thiocyanates, which have the formula R–S–C≡N.
Many isothiocyanates from plants are produced by enzymatic conversion of metabolites called glucosinolates. A prominent natural isothiocyanate is allyl isothiocyanate, also known as mustard oils.
The N=C and C=S distances are 117 and 158 pm.[2] By contrast, in methyl thiocyanate, N≡C and C–S distances are 116 and 176 pm.
Typical bond angles for C–N=C in aryl isothiocyanates are near 165°. Again, the thiocyanate isomers are quite different with C–S–C angle near 100°.[3] In both isomers the SCN angle approaches 180°.
Synthesis
Allyl thiocyanate isomerizes to the isothiocyanate:[4]
CH 2=CHCH 2SCN → CH 2=CHCH 2NCS
Isothiocyanates can be prepared by treating organic dithiocarbamate salts with lead nitrate or tosyl chloride.[5][6]
Synthesis of phenyl isothiocyanate
Isothiocyanates may also be accessed by the fragmentation reactions of 1,4,2-oxathiazoles.[7] This methodology has been applied to a polymer-supported synthesis of isothiocyanates.[8]
Reactions
Isothiocyanates are weak electrophiles, susceptible to hydrolysis. In general, nucleophiles attack at carbon:
The reaction of acetophenoneenolate with phenyl isothiocyanate. In this one-pot synthesis[9] the ultimate reaction product is a Thiazolidine. This reaction is stereoselective with the formation of the Z-isomer only.
Isothiocyanates occur widely in nature and are of interest in food science and medical research.[1] Vegetable foods with characteristic flavors due to isothiocyanates include bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, wasabi, horseradish, mustard, radish, Brussels sprouts, watercress, papaya seeds, nasturtiums, and capers.[1] These species generate isothiocyanates in different proportions, and so have different, but recognizably related, flavors. They are all members of the order Brassicales, which is characterized by the production of glucosinolates, and of the enzyme myrosinase, which acts on glucosinolates to release isothiocyanates.[1]
↑Majewska, Paulina; Rospenk, Maria; Czarnik-Matusewicz, Bogusława; Kochel, Andrzej; Sobczyk, Lucjan; Dąbrowski, Roman (2008). "Structure and polarized IR spectra of 4-isothiocyanatophenyl 4-heptylbenzoate (7TPB)". Chemical Physics354 (1–3): 186–195. doi:10.1016/j.chemphys.2008.10.024. Bibcode: 2008CP....354..186M.
↑Erian, Ayman W.; Sherif, Sherif M. (1999). "The chemistry of thiocyanic esters". Tetrahedron55 (26): 7957–8024. doi:10.1016/S0040-4020(99)00386-5.
↑Emergon, David W. (1971). "The Preparation and Isomerization of Allyl Thiocyanate. An Organic Chemistry Experiment". Journal of Chemical Education48 (1): 81. doi:10.1021/ed048p81. Bibcode: 1971JChEd..48...81E.
↑Wong, R; Dolman, SJ (2007). "Isothiocyanates from tosyl chloride mediated decomposition of in situ generated dithiocarbamic acid salts". The Journal of Organic Chemistry72 (10): 3969–3971. doi:10.1021/jo070246n. PMID17444687.
↑O'Reilly, RJ; Radom, L (2009). "Ab initio investigation of the fragmentation of 5,5-diamino-substituted 1,4,2-oxathiazoles". Organic Letters11 (6): 1325–1328. doi:10.1021/ol900109b. PMID19245242.
↑Burkett, BA; Kane-Barber, JM; O'Reilly, RJ; Shi, L (2007). "Polymer-supported thiobenzophenone : a self-indicating traceless 'catch and release' linker for the synthesis of isothiocyanates". Tetrahedron Letters48 (31): 5355–5358. doi:10.1016/j.tetlet.2007.06.025.
↑Ortega-Alfaro, M. C.; López-Cortés, J. G.; Sánchez, H. R.; Toscano, R. A.; Carrillo, G. P.; Álvarez-Toledano, C. (2005). "Improved approaches in the synthesis of new 2-(1, 3-thiazolidin-2Z-ylidene)acetophenones". Arkivoc2005 (6): 356–365. doi:10.3998/ark.5550190.0006.631.
↑Hammerich, Ole; Parke, Vernon D. (1977). "The electrochemistry of cyanates and related compounds". in Patai, Saul. The Chemistry of Cyanates and Their Thio Derivatives. Part 1. Chichester: Wiley. ISBN0-471-99477-4.