Efficient and selective N-alkylation of carbamates in the presence of Cs2CO3 and TBAI

Mild and selective N-alkylation of carbamates was carried our in the presence of cesium carbonate, tetra-butylammonium iodide (TBAI), and a halide. This protocol was highly selective and efficient, offering aliphatic and aromatic N-alkyl carbamates exclusively in high yields. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.