Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of carbodiimides from N,N′-disubstituted thioureas and ureas

Abstract

A facile and efficient sonochemical method for the preparation of carbodiimides from their corresponding thioureas or ureas was described. Using Ph3P–I2 combination in the presence of triethylamine, various diaryl, aryl–alkyl, as well as dialkyl substituted substrates could be converted into carbodiimides in good-to-excellent yields within short reaction times under mild conditions with simple experimental setup.