Iron(III) catalysed synthesis of unsymmetrical di and trisubstituted ureas--a variation of classical Ritter reaction.

An application of the classical Ritter reaction for the synthesis of unsymmetrical di and trisubstituted ureas catalyzed by FeCl(3) is described. The protocol is of significant interest in view of the easy availability of precursors, mild reaction conditions employed and interestingly its applicability for the alkylation of alcohols capable of forming stable carbocationic intermediates even to the sterically hindered moieties.