Catalytic synthesis of aromatic monoisocyanates from nitro compounds and carbon monoxide

Abstract

1. We have synthesized aromatic monoisocyanates in 78–90% yield by carbonylation of nitro compounds with carbon monoxide in the presence of a PdCl2 + pyridine + V2O5, V2O4, or MoO3 catalyst at 200°C and a CO pressure of 50–100 atm. 2. The reactivity of methyl- and chlorine-substituted nitrobenzenes depends only slightly on the number and position of the substituents in the phenyl ring. 3. The reactivity of halogen-substituted nitrobenzenes diminishes in the order Cl > Br ≫ I.