Process for preparing alkylureas from O,S-dimethyl dithiocarbonate

This patent reports a general procedure for the production of N-alkyl-, N,N'-dialkyl-, and N,N,N'-trialkyl-ureas, using O,S-dimethyl dithiocarbonate as a carbonylating reagent for alkylamines. The procedure provides three steps: i) reaction of O,S-dimethyl dithiocarbonate with primary aliphatic amines to give O-methyl N-alkylthiocarbamates; ii) their rearrangement to the corresponding S-methyl N-alkylthiocarbamates; iii) reaction with ammonia or primary or secondary aliphatic amines to give mono-, di-, and tri-substituted ureas. To be noted the complete exploitation of the reagent.