A new and convenient in-situ method of generating phenyl isocyanates from anilines using oxalyl chloride

A new and convenient method of generating phenyl isocyanates from anilines using oxalyl chloride is described. Acylation of a variety of substituted aniline hydrochlorides with oxalyl chloride affords the intermediate oxamic chlorides, which smoothly undergo thermal decomposition to the corresponding isocyanates. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.