Cyanothioacetamide: a polyfunctional reagent with broad synthetic utility

Abstract

The review integrates and analyzes the published data on the chemical reactivity of α-cyanothioacetamide, a convenient starting compound for the preparation of activated alkenes, functionally substituted pyrans, thiopyrans, pyridines, thiophenes, pyrroles, quinolines, isoquinolines, pyrimidines, thienopyrroles, pyrazolopyridines, pyridothienopyrimidines and pyrimidothienodiazines. The relatively small α-cyanothioacetamide molecule has several reaction centres. Nucleophilic reactions of the methylene group are covered most extensively, including the Thorpe reaction; reactions with diazonium salts, azides, iso(thio)cyanates and nitroso compounds; nucleopilic substitution; Knoevenagel condensation; Michael reaction; and multicomponent syntheses. Separate parts of the review are devoted to nucleophilic reactions involving the thiocarbonyl and amino groups and electrophilic reactions involving thiocarbonyl and nitrile groups. The focus is on the publications of the last 15 years. The bibliography includes 350 references.