The efficient synthesis of carbodiimides using a titanium imido complex

An efficient rt synthesis of carbodiimides or ureas from the combination of a titanium imido complex 2 and a range of 12 aryl and aliphatic isocyanates is described. Control experiments suggest that carbodimide formation is via heterocumulene metathesis through a transient intermediate η2-ureato-N,O metallacycle 8.