Metal-Free and Alkali-Metal-Catalyzed Synthesis of Isoureas from Alcohols and Carbodiimides

The first addition of alcohols to carbodiimides catalyzed by transition-metal-free compounds employs 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) and its alkali metal salts. Isoureas are obtained in short reaction times and high yields when TBDK is used as the catalyst. Control of the coordination sphere of potassium with exogenous chelating ligands, in combination with mechanistic DFT calculations, demonstrated the role and positive influence of the alkali-metal cation on the kinetics.