Synthesis of highly substituted ureas and thioureas through 1,3-diaza-Claisen rearrangements

Isocyanates and isothiocyanates that are not activated by an electron withdrawing group react with azanorbornenes in benzene at reflux to afford ureas and thioureas through the corresponding 1,3-diaza-Claisen rearrangements. At higher temperatures, a triazinone byproduct is observed. Isocyanates and isothiocyanates that are activated by an electron-withdrawing group react at room temperature to give the corresponding ureas and thioureas. The reactions of the activated isocyanates and isothiocyanates are also accompanied by the formation of isoureas and isothioureas. Interestingly, while benzoyl isocyanate reacts with N-benzyl azanorbornene at room temperature to give a 2:1 mixture of urea to isourea, in benzene at reflux the only product observed is the urea. A crossover experiment rules out the possibility that the products are formed through a retro-Diels–Alder, [4+2] cycloaddition sequence instead of a 1,3-diaza-Claisen rearrangement. Competition experiments between isocyanates and isothiocyanates with limiting azanorbornene indicate that isothiocyanates react faster to give the rearrangement product. Since isocyanates are shown to be more electrophilic, these data are consistent with a fast addition step and a rate-determining rearrangement step.