Synthesis 2012; 44(9): 1279-1292
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1289749
review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Cyanamide Moiety, Synthesis and Reactivity

Marie-Hélène Larraufie
a   UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR CNRS 7201), 4 place Jussieu, C. 229, 75005 Paris, France
,
Giovanni Maestri
a   UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR CNRS 7201), 4 place Jussieu, C. 229, 75005 Paris, France
,
Max Malacria
a   UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR CNRS 7201), 4 place Jussieu, C. 229, 75005 Paris, France
,
Cyril Ollivier
a   UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR CNRS 7201), 4 place Jussieu, C. 229, 75005 Paris, France
,
Louis Fensterbank*
a   UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR CNRS 7201), 4 place Jussieu, C. 229, 75005 Paris, France
,
Emmanuel Lacôte*
b   ICSN CNRS, Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, Fax: +33(1)44277360; +33(1)69077247   Email: louis.fensterbank@upmc.fr   Email: emmanuel.lacote@icsn.cnrs-gif.fr
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 17 January 2012

Accepted after revision: 20 February 2012

Publication Date:
12 April 2012 (online)


Abstract

The cyanamide moiety provides many opportunities as a building block for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. This review discusses the reported methods for the preparation of alkyl- and N-acylcyanamides and illustrates their reactivity vis-à-vis nucleophilic additions, cycloadditions, radical chemistry and coordination chemistry.

1 Introduction

2 Biological Relevance of the Cyanamide Moiety

3 Access to Cyanamides

3.1 Cyanation of Amines

3.2 Palladium Catalysis

3.3 Deoxygenation of Isocyanates

3.4 Desulfurization of Thioureas

4 Reactivity of Cyanamides

4.1 Nucleophilic Additions

4.2 Cycloadditions

4.3 Additions to Carbonyl Groups

4.4 Chlorinations and Oxidations with tert-Butyl-N-chloro­cyanamide

4.5 Cyanamides as Radical Partners

5 Coordination Chemistry of Cyanamides

6 Conclusion