A practical approach to semicarbazone and hydrazone derivatives via imino-isocyanates.

Complex hydrazone derivatives can be accessed readily from hydrazones upon heating in the presence of nucleophiles. This reactivity likely involves imino-isocyanate intermediates, and a variety of leaving groups can be used at temperatures ranging from 20 to 150 °C. Alcohols, thiols, primary, and secondary amines can be used as nucleophiles, thus providing a simple alternative to the synthesis of hydrazones via condensation on the parent carbonyl precursor and allowing late-stage derivatization.