The Platinum Complex Catalyzed Reductive N-Carbonylation of Nitroarenes to the Carbamates

The platium catalyst combined with triphenylphosphine, tin(IV) chloride, and triethylamine showed high activity for the reductive N-carbonylation of nitroarene in ethanol at 180 °C under carbon monoxide of 60 kg cm−2. From nitrobenzene, ethyl phenylcarbamate was obtained in 83% yield. Iron(III) chloride, aluminum chloride and titanium(IV) chloride could be used as Lewis acids in place of tin(IV) chloride. Various nitroarenes were transformed into corresponding carbamate in moderate to excellent yields with the platinum catalyst.