Synthesis 2010(24): 4251-4255  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1258299
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Efficient Solvent-Free Synthesis of Urea Derivatives Using Selenium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Amines with Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen

Takumi Mizuno*, Takeo Nakai, Masatoshi Mihara
Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute, 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan
Fax: +81(6)69638049; e-Mail: tmizuno@omtri.or.jp ;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 26 August 2010
Publication Date:
14 October 2010 (online)

Abstract

In the presence of a catalytic amount of selenium under ambient pressure of carbon monoxide with oxygen, solvent-free facile synthesis of urea derivatives was developed; the aim is for green and sustainable chemistry. For example, N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine (20 mmol) successfully afforded 1,3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-one (DMI) in 74% yield (1487% based on Se) using selenium catalyst (5 mol%) under mixed gas (CO/O2, 2:1) at 0.1 MPa, 20 ˚C without any additive or solvent.