Alkylation of N-arylcyanamides and electron-deficient phenols with (chloromethyl)thiirane

Alkylation of N-arylcyanamides with (chloromethyl)thiirane in aqueous alkaline solution provides an easy synthetic approach to N-aryl-N-(thietan-3-yl)cyanamides. Yields vary from 34 to 76% and are lower in the case of electron-deficient aryl substituents. The reaction with phenols containing electron-withdrawing groups results in formation of 3-(aryloxy)thietanes in 19–45% yields.