Spontaneous and Direct Transformation of N,O-Diaryl Carbamates into N,N′-Diarylureas

抄録

We have discovered a spontaneous reaction of N,O-diaryl carbamates to afford symmetrical N,N′-diarylureas. Optimization of the conditions indicated that N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was the best solvent and triethylamine (Et₃N) was the best additive for this transformation. The reaction requires the presence of aryl groups on the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of carbamates. Substrates bearing an electron-donating methoxy group on either of the aryl groups reacted slowly under these conditions.