The syntheses of disubstituted ureas by carbonylation of a series of amines in the presence of a sulfate modified zirconia supported palladium catalyst was investigated at an initial total pressure of 4.0 MPa and 135°C. High conversions and yields were achieved for the synthesis of symmetric dialkylureas. This supported catalyst could also be easily separated and recovered after reaction.

★★★★☆ F. Shi et al. : Tetrahedron Letters 42 (2001) 2161–2163.