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-<i>a</i>]­pyridines with broad functionalities have been synthesized in high yields. This methodology is also applicable for the selenocyanation of imidazo­[1,2-<i>a</i>]­pyridine