FACILE CONVERSION OF 1,3-DISUBSTITUTED THIOUREAS TO THE CORRESPONDING UREAS BY SUPEROXIDE RADICAL ANION (O2·−) IN DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE
Treatment of 1,3-disubstituted thioureas with superoxide radical anion (O2·−) at 20 °C in dimethyl sulfoxide resulted in the formation of 1,3-disubstituted ureas in excellent yields. The desulfurization appears to proceed by the formation of peroxy-sulfur intermediates such as peroxy-sulfenate, -sulfinate and/or -sulfonate.