Efficient Solvent-Free Synthesis of Urea Derivatives Using Selenium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Amines with Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen

In the presence of a catalytic amount of selenium under ambient pressure of carbon monoxide with oxygen, solvent-free facile synthesis of urea derivatives was developed; the aim is for green and sustainable chemistry. For example, N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine (20 mmol) successfully afforded 1,3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-one (DMI) in 74% yield (1487% based on Se) using selenium catalyst (5 mol%) under mixed gas (CO/O(2), 2:1) at 0.1 MPa, 20 degrees C without any additive or solvent.