Research Projects

Dithiocarbamate molecules are increasingly being studied for their applications in biomedical science, polymer science, and material science. They are stable, air-moisture-tolerant compounds that can be easily prepared from cheap and easily available starting materials like amines and carbon disulfide. They are an attractive choice for preparing organic structural frameworks. Although few synthetic protocols have been developed using dithiocarbamates as starting materials, more extensive study is needed to make them versatile synthetic intermediates for different types of organosulfur molecules. A research group has been working on the synthetic application of dithiocarbamate intermediates for some time, publishing the synthesis of diaryl sulfides, unsymmetrical thioureas, and O-thiocarbamate molecules. In this project proposal, the group aims to extend their research experience in synthesizing useful sulfur-containing organic molecules using dithiocarbamate molecules. They propose the synthesis of thioamide compounds by decarboxylative-decarbonylative coupling of alpha-keto carboxylic acids with dithiocarbamate anoins in the presence of a Pd(II) catalyst. The group plans to prepare alkynyl thioamides and O-arylthiocarbamates using thiuram disulfides as the source of thioamide groups. They also plan to explore S-Aryl dithiocarbamate as a convenient source of thiols in C-H thiolation and C-S cross coupling reactions in the presence of a suitable transition metal catalyst. In conclusion, this research proposal aims to synthesize important organosulfur compounds using dithiocarbamates as cheap and convenient synthetic building blocks, with detailed investigation of their chemical reactivities enriching the chemistry of dithiocarbamates.