Process for the production of isothiocyanate derivatives

A process for the production of thionocarbamate, thiourea and dithiocarbamate derivatives of a carbonyl isothiocyanate which comprises:

• (1) reacting a compound having the formula:
• ##STR4## wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl radical, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkene radical or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl radical and X is a halogen atom, with a compound having the formula:
• MSCN (II)
• wherein M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, lead or NH.sub.4 and a compound having the formula:
• R.sup.1 YH (III)
• wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl radical, a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl radical or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy radical and Y is oxygen, sulfur or NR.sup.2, wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen or R.sup.1, in the presence of (A) a solvent for the compounds or (B) water and a catalyst comprising a six-membered mononuclear or ten-membered, fused, polynuclear, aromatic heterocyclic compound having 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms as the only hetero atoms in the ring, and provided that when Y is oxygen or sulfur the solvent can be an excess of the compound of Formula (III), at a temperature ranging from about -10.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. for up to about 16 hours and
• (2) recovering the resultant derivative.