Teytalkyl ammonium carbonates in organic synthesis

Tetraalkylammonium carbonates such as tetraethylammonium carbonate (TEAC), tetraethylammonium hydrogen carbonate (TEAHC), tetrabutylammonium methyl and ethyl carbonate (TBAMC and TBAEC) are useful reagents in a wide number of organic reactions. They shown a double reactivity and can be employed as well as carboxylating reagents or bases. According to these features tetraalkylammonium carbonates easily perform conversion of alcohols and/or alkyl halides into carbonates, the conversion of amines into carbamates, the alkylation reaction of classes of compounds such as pyrroles and thiols and the synthesis of 2,4-oxazolidindiones starting from a- haloamides. These new methodologies offers safe and mild alternatives to the classical methods reported in literature, avoiding the use o f toxic and harmful reagents and/or harsh reaction conditions. All carbonates are, in fact, obtained starting from carbon dioxide through chemical or electrochemical methodologies.