Copper(II)-catalysed oxidative carbonylation of aminols and amines in water: A direct access to oxazolidinones, ureas and carbamates

• CuCl2 is an efficient catalyst in the oxidative carbonylation of amines and aminols
• Water is found to be the most efficient solvent for this reaction
• Economic and eco-friendly access to N-containing carbonyl compounds

Copper(II) chloride catalyses the oxidative carbonylation of aminols, amine and alcohols to give 2-oxazolidinones, ureas and carbamates. Reaction proceeds smoothly in water under homogeneous conditions (Ptot = 4 MPa; PO2 = 0.6 MPa, PCO), at 100 °C in relatively short reaction times (4 h) and without using bases or any other additives. This methodology represents an economic and environmentally benign non-phosgene alternative for the preparation of these three important N-containing carbonyl compounds.

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