1-(Methyldithiocarbonyl)imidazole: a useful thiocarbonyl transfer reagent for synthesis of substituted thioureas

1-(Methyldithiocarbonyl)imidazole 1 and its N-methyl quaternary salt 2 have been shown to be efficient methyldithiocarbonyl and thiocarbonyl transfer reagents for the synthesis of dithiocarbamates, symmetrical and unsymmetrical mono-, di- and tri-substituted thioureas in high yields under mild and simple non-hazardous reaction conditions