Facile Synthesis of Ureas in Ionic Liquid

The reaction of isocyanates with aliphatic and aromatic amines in the 1-n-butyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF4) ionic liquid in good to excellent yields is described. Due to its insolubility, the desired urea solids could be recovered by simple filtration from the ionic liquid after reaction.