Photo-on-Demand Phosgenation Reactions with Chloroform for Selective Syntheses of N-Substituted Ureas and Isocyanates

How To Get Isocyanate?

Isocyanate, a pivotal chemical intermediate to synthesize polyurethane with widespread applications in household appliances, automobiles, and construction, is predominantly produced via the phosgene process, which currently holds a paramount status in industrial isocyanate production. Nonetheless, concerns arise from the toxicity of phosgene and the corrosiveness of hydrogen chloride, posing safety hazards. The synthesis of isocyanate using nonphosgene methods represents a promising avenue for future development. This article primarily focuses on the nonphosgene approach, which involves the formation of carbamate through the reaction of nitro-amino compounds with carbon monoxide, dimethyl carbonate, and urea, among other reagents, subsequently leading to the thermal decomposition of carbamate to get isocyanate. This paper emphasizes the progress in catalyst development during the carbamate decomposition process. Single-component metal catalysts, particularly zinc, exhibit advantages such as high activity, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with a wide range of substrates. Composite catalysts enhance isocyanate yield by introducing a second component to adjust the active metal composition. The central research direction aims to optimize catalyst adaptation to reaction conditions, including temperature, pressure, time, and solvent, to achieve high raw material conversion and product yield.

Photo-on-Demand In Situ Phosgenation Reactions That Cross Three Phases of a Heterogeneous Solution of Chloroform and Aqueous NaOH

Here, we report a novel photo-on-demand in situ phosgenation reaction that crosses three phases of a heterogeneous solution of chloroform (CHCl3) and aqueous NaOH containing an aryl alcohol or amine. This reaction system enables the safe, convenient, and inexpensive synthesis of carbonate esters, polycarbonates, and N-substituted ureas from aryl alcohols, aryl diols, and primary/secondary amines, respectively, on a practical scale and with good yield. The photochemical oxidation of CHCl3 to phosgene (COCl2) occurs upon irradiation with UV light from a low-pressure mercury lamp of both the gas and liquid phases of the reaction system under O2 bubbling of the vigorously stirred sample solution. The following reaction mechanisms are suggested: The aryl alcohol reacts in situ with the generated COCl2 at the interfaces of the organic/aqueous phases and aqueous/gas phases, in competition with the decomposition of COCl2 due to hydrolysis. Nucleophilicity and hydrophilicity are enhanced by the formation of aryl alkoxide ion through the reaction with NaOH, whereas the reaction of amine proceeds through neutralization of the generated HCl by the aqueous NaOH.

Detection of exposed phosgene in household bleach: development of a selective and cost-effective sensing tool

Sensing of gaseous environment pollutants and health hazards is in demand these days and in this regard, lethal phosgene has emerged as a leading entrant. In this contribution, we have successfully developed a facile chemodosimeter (ANO) based on an anthracene fluorophore and oxime recognition site with an interesting mechanism to sense lethal phosgene evolved from bleaching powder, a very popular disinfectant and sanitizer. The ANO probe is highly competent in recognizing deadly phosgene in solution and in the gaseous phase with a detection limit in the nanomolar range (1.52 nM). The sensing mechanism is confirmed by UV-vis, emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and computational studies.

Photo-on-Demand In Situ Synthesis of N-Substituted Trichloroacetamides with Tetrachloroethylene and Their Conversions to Ureas, Carbamates, and Polyurethanes

N-substituted trichloroacetamides (NTCAs), which serve as blocked isocyanates, were synthesized in ∼97% yields by in situ photo-on-demand trichloroacetylation of amines with tetrachloroethylene (TCE). The reactions were performed by photo-irradiation of TCE solutions containing an amine under O2 bubbling over 70 °C with a low-pressure mercury lamp. TCE underwent photochemical oxidation to afford trichloroacetyl chloride having high toxicity and corrosivity, which then reacts in situ with the amine to afford NTCA. Compared with conventional NTCA synthesis with hexachloroacetone, the present reaction has the advantage of being widely applicable to a variety of amines, even those with low nucleophilicity such as amides, fluorinated amines, and amine HCl salts. NTCAs could be converted to the corresponding N-substituted ureas and carbamates through base-catalyzed condensation with amines and alcohols, respectively, with the elimination of CHCl3. The reaction may proceed by the initial formation of isocyanate and its subsequent addition reaction with the amine or alcohol. This photochemical reaction also enables the synthesis of fluorinated NTCAs, which accelerate the reactions, and realizes the synthesis of novel fluorinated chemicals including polyurethanes.

Photo-On-Demand Synthesis of α-Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides with Chloroform

Amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) are conventionally synthesized from α-amino acids and phosgene. The present study reports in situ photo-on-demand phosgenation reactions of amino acids with CHCl₃ for synthesizing NCAs. A series of NCAs were obtained on a gram scale upon photo-irradiation of a mixture solution of CHCl₃ and CH₃CN containing an amino acid at 60-70 °C under O₂ bubbling. This method presents a safe and convenient reaction controlled by light without special apparatuses and reagents.