Catalytic carbonylation of functionalized diamines: application to the core structure of DMP 323 and DMP 450.

W(CO)(6)-catalyzed carbonylation provides an alternative to phosgene or phosgene derivatives such as 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) for the conversion of amines to ureas. As an illustration, the core structure of the HIV protease inhibitors DMP 323 and DMP 450 has been prepared by catalytic carbonylation of diamine intermediates from the original syntheses.