One-pot synthesis of S-alkyl dithiocarbamates via the reaction of N-tosylhydrazones, carbon disulfide and amines.

A new, convenient and efficient transition metal-free synthesis of S-alkyl dithiocarbamates through one-pot reaction of N-tosylhydrazones, carbon disulfide and amines is reported. Tosylhydrazones derived from various aromatic and aliphatic ketones or aldehydes were tested and gave dithiocarbamates in good to excellent yields. The tosylhydrazones can be generated in situ without isolation, which provides a simpler one-pot method to synthesize dithiocarbamates via the reaction of carbonyl compounds, carbon disulfide and amines in the presence of 4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide.