Electrochemically Promoted Synthesis of 4-Aryl-2-Thioquinolines via Cyclization of Isocyanides With Thiols

Organic sulfur compounds and quinoline derivatives have widespread applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Herein, we report a novel and highly efficient electrochemical radical-mediated synthetic strategy of 4-aryl-2-thioquinolines. This protocol involves a cyclization reaction between o-vinylphenyl isocyanates and thiols under mild and environmentally benign conditions without requiring chemical oxidants, external additives, or elevated temperatures and pressures. This electrochemical approach offers several advantages such as clean reaction conditions, excellent atom economy, and the absence of transition metal catalysts or chemical oxidants. Moreover, the feasibility of Gram-scale synthesis and subsequent derivatization highlights the practical utility of this method, thereby providing a valuable tool for medicinal chemistry and related research areas.