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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