Facile one-pot synthesis of 4-substituted semicarbazides

A diverse library of twenty-five 4-mono- and disubstituted semicarbazides was prepared in a one-pot two-step approach. The method includes formation of a carbamate from bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)carbonate or 2,2,2-trifluoroethylchloroformate and a primary or secondary amine and subsequent interaction of the carbamate with hydrazine to result in a semicarbazide. The approach allowed to obtain 4-substituted semicarbazides on a large scale in good yield and high purity.