Download PDF
Synlett 2007(19): 3073-3074  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-990855
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

1,1′-Carbonyldiimidazole (CDI)

Rohit K. Sharma*
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160 062, India
e-Mail: rohitksg@gmail.com;
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
08 November 2007 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints All articles of this category

Introduction

1,1′-Carbonyldiimidazole (CDI; Figure [1] , 1), a white crystalline solid with its melting point between 117 °C and 122 °C, has been widely exploited in organic chemistry for carrying out reactions involving transfer of a carbonyl group, [1-3] imidazole moiety, [4] and coupling between different functional groups under various conditions. [5-9]

Figure 1

Preparation 1,1′-Carbonyldiimidazole (CDI, 1) can be readily prepared by the reaction of four equivalents of imidazole 2 with phosgene (3) under anhydrous conditions (Scheme 1). The imidazole serves as both nucleophile and base in this conversion. Removal of the side product, imidazolium chloride, and solvent results in the crystalline product in ca. 90% yield. Scheme 1