Achieving functional group diversity in parallel synthesis: solution-phase synthesis of a library of ureas, carbamates, thiocarbamates, and amides using carbamoylimidazolium salts

A convenient protocol for the parallel solution-phase synthesis of a library of thiocarbamates, ureas, carbamates, and amides from carbamoylimidazolium salts has been developed. The crystalline carbamoylimidazolium salts are readily synthesized from secondary amines, CDI and iodomethane, and act as stable carbamoylation reagents. A common set of reaction conditions and a straightforward non-chromatographic liquid-liquid extraction purification protocol were developed for reactions with thiols, amines, phenols, and carboxylic acids, giving the products with high purities and yields. The resultant library incorporates diversity arising from the choice of reaction partners and the functional group linkage generated in the couplings. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.