Catalytic incorporation of CO 2 into organic substrates: Synthesis of unsaturated carbamates, carbonates and ureas

Abstract

The electrophilic activation of alkynes toward nucleophilic adducts of CO 2 allows the catalytic incorporation of carbon dioxide to produce functional substrates that are usually made from phosgene derivatives. The activation of terminal alkynes by selected ruthenium(II) complexes allows the catalytic synthesis of alkenylcarbamates, O-1-(1,3-dienyl)carbamates, ureas, and β-oxoalkylcarbamates. The phosphine-catalysed transformation of propargyl alcohol derivatives in the presence of CO 2 gives access to cyclic carbamates and carbonates, which are key starting products in the formation of oxazolidinones, carbamates, and functional carbonates.