Controlled reduction of isocyanates to formamides using monomeric magnesium

Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 Feb 21;59(16):2255-2258. doi: 10.1039/d3cc00036b.

Abstract

This work describes a transition metal-free methodology involving an efficient and controlled reduction of isocyanates to only formamide derivatives using pinacolborane (HBpin) as the hydrogenating agent and a bis(phosphino)carbazole ligand stabilized magnesium methyl complex (1) as the catalyst. A large number of substrates undergo selective hydroboration and give exclusively N-boryl formamides.