A simple one-pot synthesis of triflyl guanidines: access to highly substituted electron-poor guanidines

Unsymmetrical di- and trisubstituted triflyl guanidines are accessed through a simple, one-pot protocol from the corresponding isothiocyanate and amine. Furthermore, in the presence of base, trisubstituted triflyl guanidines are alkylated to obtain tetrasubstituted triflyl guanidines in high yields and complete regioselectivity.