Controlled reduction of isocyanates to formamides using monomeric magnesium

This work describes a transition metal-free methodology involving an efficient and controlled reduction of isocyanates to only formamide derivatives using pinacolborane (HBpin) as the hydrogenating agent and a bis(phosphino)carbazole ligand stabilized magnesium methyl complex (1) as the catalyst. A large number of substrates undergo selective hydroboration and give exclusively N-boryl formamides.

Automated summary

This study presents a transition metal-free method for the efficient and controlled reduction of isocyanates to formamide derivatives using pinacolborane as the hydrogenating agent and a magnesium methyl complex with a bis(phosphino)carbazole ligand as the catalyst. A wide range of substrates undergo selective hydroboration, yielding exclusively N-boryl formamides.