Revisiting nucleophilic substitution reactions: microwave-assisted synthesis of azides, thiocyanates, and sulfones in an aqueous medium.

A practical, rapid, and efficient microwave (MW) promoted synthesis of various azides, thiocyanates, and sulfones is described in an aqueous medium. This general and expeditious MW-enhanced nucleophilic substitution approach uses easily accessible starting materials such as halides or tosylates in reaction with alkali azides, thiocyanates, or sulfinates in the absence of any phase-transfer catalyst, and a variety of reactive functional groups are tolerated.