Metal free oxidative coupling of aryl formamides with alcohols for the synthesis of carbamates.

A direct transformation of N-aryl formamides to the corresponding carbamates via the formation of isocyanate intermediates is achieved in good yields using hypervalent iodine as an oxidant.

Copper catalyzed oxidative coupling of amines with formamides: a new approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical urea derivatives.

Direct access to unsymmetrical urea derivatives via copper catalysed C-H/N-H coupling of formamides with amines has been developed at room temperature. This protocol is also applied to the synthesis of chiral urea derivatives.