In Situ Production of Phosgene: Utilization in Urea Synthesis

Phosgene, as a crucial chemical, is used to produce polymers, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report a mild iron-catalyzed in situ conversion of CCl 4 to phosgene, applied to the synthesis of various ureas. Using Fe(acac) 3 /CCl 4 to replace dangerous phosgene offers significant advantages in terms of its safety and easy operation. Given the broad utility of phosgene and the importance of ureas in drugs and functional materials, this method, as a convenient and adaptable approach, holds promise for academic and industrial applications.