Thiocyanation of N-arenesulfonyl-N′-aroyl-1,4-benzoquinone diimines

The reaction of N-arenesulfonyl-N′-aroyl-1,4-benzoquinone diimines with potassium thiocyanate in glacial acetic acid occurs as 1,4-addition of thiocyanate ion by the sulfur atom to the quinoid ring in the meta position with respect to the aroyl group. The addition products, N-[4-(arenesulfonamido)-3-thiocyanatophenyl]-benzamides, partially undergo intramolecular cyclization to N-(2-imino-3-arenesulfonyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)benzamides whose hydrolysis yields 2-amino-6-benzamido-1,3-benzothiazol-3-ium arenesulfonates. The latter lose arenesulfonic acid with formation of N-(2-amino-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)benzamides on treatment with a mixture of methanol with water and acetic acid.