A high-yielding synthesis of N-methyl carbamoylimidazole from 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) and MeNH(3)Cl is described. The product is a crystalline, readily storable, water-stable compound that reacts as a methyl isocyanate (MIC) substitute. Reaction of N-methyl carbamoylimidazole in the presence of a base such as triethylamine occurs with nucleophiles such as amines, protected and unprotected amino acids, thiols and alcohols. The product N-methylureas, carbamates and thiocarbamates are obtained in good to excellent yields, with reactions occurring in either organic solvents or water. The protocol for the synthesis of N-methyl carbamoylimidazole is both scalable and general, occurring in quantitative yield at scales ranging from 300 mg to 20 g. The success of this method relies upon the reaction of CDI with the ammonium salt rather than the free amine, resulting in a significant improvement in the yield of N-methyl carbamoylimidazole. The reaction presumably involves a proton transfer from MeNH(3)Cl to the CDI, which results in the release of MeNH(2) with simultaneous activation of the CDI as its protonated form. Other primary ammonium hydrochloride salts, including protected α-amino acid salts, give excellent yields of the corresponding N-alkyl carbamoylimidazoles and serve as alkyl isocyanate surrogates. The resultant N-alkyl carbamoylimidazoles can be converted to ureas in high yields without the formation of intermediary isocyanates.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly emerging as an important cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. 1Epidemiologic studies done in various populations have identified major risk factors for CVD, which include both biochemical and non-biochemical factors such as inappropriate diet and physical activity leading to high body mass index (BMI), raised blood pressure, tobacco use, unfavorable blood lipid, and impaired glucose tolerance. One report suggested that more than 75 % of CVD in population could be explained by the prevalence of these established risk factors.2 Strategies for preventing premature CVD include measures to control its major risk factors. Measurement of biochemical factors is not always feasible in developing countries due to budget constrains and lack of CVD epidemiologic research. However, measurement of established non-biochemical risk factors such as blood pressure, BMI, and smoking can be done in a standardized but less expensive way. Surveillance of these non-biochemical risk factors is important as these risk factors may explain a large part of CVD in developing countries 3 in

Equivalent. -The applied imidazole reagent can be easily prepared from methylamine hydrochloride. Other alkyl isocyanate equivalents can be prepared in the same manner from amines or amine hydrochlorides, including derivatives with functional groups and stereocenters. These compounds are excellent reagents for the syntheses of ureas, carbamates, and thiocarbamates. -(DUSPARA, P. A.; ISLAM, M. S.; LOUGH, A. J.; BATEY*, R. A.; J. Org. Chem. 77 (2012) 22, 10362-10368, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jo302084a ; Dep. Chem., Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ont. M5S 3H6, Can.; Eng.) -Roessler 16-031