Catalytic guanylation of aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic primary and secondary amines using nanocrystalline zinc(II) oxide

Nanocrystalline ZnO was found to be a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the guanylation of amines with various carbodiimides to afford N,N',N ''-trisubstituted guanidines in excellent yields. Structurally divergent aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic primary and secondary amines were converted to the corresponding N,N',N ''-trisubstituted guanidines using optimal conditions. The catalyst was easy to handle even under atmospheric conditions and can be easily recovered by centrifugation and reused for five cycles with consistent activity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.