ReactNMR and ReactIR as reaction monitoring and mechanistic elucidation tools: the NCS mediated cascade reaction of α-thioamides to α-thio-β-chloroacrylamides.

On-flow ReactIR and (1)H NMR reaction monitoring, coupled with in situ intermediate characterization, was used to aid in the mechanistic elucidation of the N-chlorosuccinimide mediated transformation of an α-thioamide. Multiple intermediates in this reaction cascade are identified and characterized, and in particular, spectroscopic evidence for the intermediacy of the chlorosulfonium ion in the chlorination of α-thioamides is provided. Further to this, solvent effects on the outcome of the transformation are discussed. This work also demonstrates the utility of using a combination of ReactIR and flow NMR reaction monitoring (ReactNMR) for characterizing complex multicomponent reaction mixtures.