Alcohols undergo dehydration in a one-pot procedure when the alkoxide, formed by treating the starting alcohol dissolved in toluene with NaH, reacts with phenyl isothiocyanate and the resulting sodium carbonimidothioate salt is heated overnight at 200 °C. The phenyl isothiocyanate dehydration yields are comparable to those obtained using the classical two-step Chugaev elimination conditions.

The novel hexacyclic triterpene salvadione B was synthesized in seven steps from the chiral quinone shown. The insight gained from this synthesis permitted a two-step, one-pot sequence to introduce the three additional rings and seven chiral centers.