Introduction

Abstract

A number of modern industrial processes are based on the catalytic carbonylation of organic substrates by carbon monoxide [1–4]. Important chemicals incorporating carbon monoxide, such as oxo alcohols, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride are obtained by this route in thousands of metric tons per year [2]. In contrast, the application of carbon monoxide as a reductant in organic synthesis is confined to relatively few examples. In the last 25 years, the catalytic reductive carbonylation of organic nitro compounds has become a very intense field of research. This is due to the fact that a series of industrially important compounds can be obtained from nitro compounds and carbon monoxide in a single step. Among the most important products that can be obtained by this route, ureas and carbamates are final products and intermediates in the synthesis of fertilisers and pesticides. On the other hand, mono- and diisocyanates are very important intermediates in the manufacture of pesticides, polyurethane foam plastics, synthetic leather, adhesives and coating. Carbonylation reactions of organic nitro compounds have been reviewed before [5–8], but these review are now all out of date.