An easy and efficient one-step procedure for the preparation of alkyl and aryl alkylcarbamates from S-methyl N-alkylthiocarbamates

A general, one-step procedure for the synthesis of alkyl and aryl alkylcarbamates, by the direct reaction of S-methyl N-alkylthiocarbamates with alcohols or phenols in toluene at reflux in the presence of triethylamine, is reported. All the target products were obtained in high yield (15 examples, average yield 94%) and very high purity (>99.2%). The recovery of a co-product of industrial interest, methanethiol, in all amount Of One mole for each mole of thiocarbamate, with complete exploitation of the reagent, Should also be noted.