Cobalt/Rhodium Heterobimetallic Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of Amines in the Presence of Carbon Monoxide and Molecular Oxygen to Ureas

An environmentally friendly oxidative carbonylation of aliphatic and aromatic primary amines to ureas has been successfully achieved in the presence of a catalytic amount of cobalt/rhodium heterobimetallic nanoparticles without any promoters. The catalyst system could be reused with only a slight loss of catalytic activity.