One step reaction for the catalytic synthesis of cyclic urea derivatives

A process for preparing a cyclic urea derivative having a general formula

• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from (a) hydrogen, (b) a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms which can be optionally substituted by C6-C10 aryl, F, Cl or Br, (c) a C6-C10 aryl radical, which can be optionally substituted by C1-C12 alkyl, (d) a heteroalkyl radical in which the alkyl radicals as defined in (b) are interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and N, and (e) a heteroaryl radical with 5 to 10 ring atoms which contain 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and R3 and R4 are independently selected from (a) a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms which can be optionally substituted by C6-C10 aryl, F, Cl or Br, (b) a C6-C10 aryl radical, which can be optionally substituted by C1-C12 alkyl, (c) a heteroalkyl radical in which the alkyl radicals as defined in (a) are interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from O, S and N, and (d) a heteroaryl radical with 5 to 10 ring atoms which contain 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N comprising reacting an alkylene carbonate with a primary amine in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the cyclic urea derivative.