A Practical and General Base-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Amines for the Synthesis of N-Formamides

A highly practical and general base-catalyzed carbonylation of amines to the corresponding N-formamides has been realized. Cheap inorganic bases, including Group IA and IIA metal hydroxides, alkoxides, carbonates, and phosphates, were effective catalysts for the transformation. In the presence of 10-40 mol% of KOH or K2CO3, various amines were converted into the corresponding N-formamides in good-to-excellent yields using CO as the formylation reagents.