Hattori, Shusuke, Galzignato, Marco and Lam, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1481-9212 (2026) eCyanation: a dual strategy for electrochemical cyanation of amines using potassium thiocyanate. ACS Electrochemistry. ISSN 2997-0571 (Online) (doi:10.1021/acselectrochem.6c00017)

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Abstract

Electrophilic cyanation has long relied on highly toxic cyanogen halides, which limits practical use. Here we present eCyanation, an electrochemical approach that uses inexpensive, bench-stable potassium thiocyanate as the cyanide source. Under mild anodic conditions, electrophilic cyanating species are generated from thiocyanate, enabling N- and S-cyanation without handling cyanide salts or isolating cyanogen halides. For oxidation-sensitive substrates, we also provide a complementary two-step variant: bromine-mediated activation of thiocyanate generates a reactive cyanating solution, which is then combined with the nucleophile after electrolysis. Together, these two operational modes offer a practical entry point to electrophilic cyanation chemistry from thiocyanate.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cyanamide, electrosynthesis, thiocyanate, anodic oxidation, cyanogen source
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QD Chemistry
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > School of Science (SCI)
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2026 13:53
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52660

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