BIS(TRICHLOROMETHYL) CARBONATE IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS

Although more than a century old compound, only in the last decade has the versatility of bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate (ETC) been demonstr ated by numerous examples of its application in the synthesis of some important classes of organic compounds: chlorocarbonyl derivatives, is ocyanates, N, N'-disubstituted (poly)ureas, (poly)carbonates, alkyl an d acyl chlorides, acid anhydrides, heterocyclic compounds. BTC is fast becoming a useful auxiliary to prepare intermediates for the synthesi s of many specific organic compounds, since it reacts with many nucleo philes usually found in organic transformations. Reactions with ETC ar e normally carried out under mild conditions and often afford good to excellent yields. Well-defined protocols and procedures, which allow e fficient synthesis of a variety of described classes of organic compou nds on a large scale, are now available, illustrating the synthetic an d technological potential of BTC. Safe handling of solid BTC has been demonstrated, underlying the advantages over its gaseous cogener phosg ene. The goal of this review is to present applications of BTC in orde r to promote the chemistry of this very interesting carbonic acid deri vative. It is the authors' belief that the chemistry of BTC will conti nue to grow and be used extensively by organic chemists and engineers in both new developments and in improving old processes.