New Synthesis of Aryl and Heteroaryl N‐Acylureas via Microwave‐Assisted Palladium‐Catalysed Carbonylation

Abstract A new, practical synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl N‐acylureas has been developed via palladium‐catalysed carbonylation of aryl or heteroaryl halides in the presence of urea nucleophiles. A range of reactions illustrating the wide scope of this reaction was carried out under microwave irradiation, using either carbon monoxide gas in a vessel equipped with a gas inlet adapter, or molybdenum hexacarbonyl as the carbon monoxide source in standard microwave vials. The reactions proceeded in good to excellent yields. To illustrate the usefulness of this method a one‐step synthesis of the important insecticide diflubenzuron is reported.