Synthesis of carbamates and ureas using Zr(IV)-catalyzed exchange processes

Zirconium(IV)-catalyzed exchange processes have been developed to prepare both carbamates and ureas from dialkyl carbonates and carbamates employing 2-hydroxypyridine (HYP) and 4-methyl-2-hydroxyquinoline (MeHYQ) as catalytic additives, respectively. A microwave acceleration effect was observed in Zr(IV)-catalyzed carbamate-urea exchange.