Process for the preparation of formamides

Abstract

Formamides e.g. diethylformamide are prepared by reacting a primary or secondary amine e.g. diethylamine or ammonia with (a) an alkyl formate or (b) carbon monoxide and an alkanol in the presence, as catalyst, of (i) a compound containing an amidine group or (ii) a Group V element-containing Lewis base and an epoxide. The Lewis base can be a trivalent nitrogen or phosphorus-containing compound. The amidine group which can be cyclic or acyclic can form part of a guanidine group.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.