Treatment of 4-(trifluoromethoxy)aniline (I) with thiocyanogen, generated from KSCN and Br2 in cold AcOH, afforded riluzole (II). Regioselective alkylation of (II) with 2-(methylthio)ethyl chloride (III) in refluxing methyl ethyl ketone then gave the title compound.
Treatment of 4-(trifluoromethoxy)aniline (I) with thiocyanogen, generated from KSCN and Br2 in cold AcOH, afforded riluzole (II). Regioselective alkylation of (II) with 2-(methylthio)ethyl chloride (III) in refluxing methyl ethyl ketone then gave compound (IV), which was finally oxidized to the title sulfoxide by means of m-chloroperbenzoic acid.