Selenium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of benzylamines to 1,3-dibenzylureas

Abstract

A facile, efficient and cost-effective approach to 1,3-dibenzylurea is reported. With cheap and recyclable nonmetal selenium as a catalyst, carbon monoxide instead of phosgene derivatives as a carbonylation agent, oxygen as an oxidant, the selenium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation reaction of benzylamines can proceed efficiently in one-pot manner in the presence of triethylamine to afford the desired 1, 3-dibenzylureas mostly in moderate to excellent yields. Selenium catalyst can be easily recovered due to its phase-transfer catalytic function and recycled.