Metal-Free Thiocyanation of Imidazoheterocycles through Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

A visible light mediated, metal-free process for the thiocyanation of imidazoheterocycles has been developed using eosin Y as a photoredox catalyst under ambient air at room temperature. A library of 3-(thiocyanato)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with broad functionalities have been synthesized in high yields. This methodology is also applicable for the selenocyanation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.