A new reagent -4-nitro-1-H-pyrazole-1-[N, N'-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)]carbo
xamidine - has been developed to effect the rapid and efficient synthesis o
f bis(carbamate)-protected guanidines from primary and secondary amines. Th
e reagent is a more electrophilic, and consequently more reactive, derivati
ve of the literature reagent 1-H-pyrazole-1-[N, N'-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)
]carboxamidine The increased reactivity of the new reagent affords it incre
ased yields in solution and the need for fewer equivalents when guanylating
resin-bound amines. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.