Facile direct synthesis of unsymmetrical ureas from N-Alloc-, N-Cbz-, and N-Boc-protected amines using DABAL-Me3

Abstract

A practical synthetic method for the direct synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted ureas from N-Alloc-, N-Cbz-, and N-Boc-protected amines is described. In this study, efficient direct conversion of the Alloc-, Cbz-, and Boc-carbamate compounds to ureas was achieved in the presence of DABAL-Me3, an air stable and easily handled reagent. Using this reaction method, both protected aromatic and aliphatic amines were successfully transformed into various trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted ureas with high yields without side product. Our findings offer promising guidelines for direct preparation of useful ureas from N-Alloc-, N-Cbz-, and N-Boc-carbamates.