A Practical and General Base‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of Amines for the Synthesis of N‐Formamides

A highly practical and general base‐catalyzed carbonylation of amines to the corresponding N‐formamides has been realized. Cheap inorganic bases, including Group IA and IIA metal hydroxides, alkoxides, carbonates, and phosphates, were effective catalysts for the transformation. In the presence of 10–40 mol % of KOH or K₂CO₃, various amines were converted into the corresponding N‐formamides in good‐to‐excellent yields using CO as the formylation reagents.