Abstract Isocyanates or carbamyl chlorides have been prepared by reaction of carbamoyl complexes of nickel and palladium with CuCl 2. Isocyanates are selectively produced from the carbamoyl complexes of primary amines,[LNiCl (CONHR)],(L= 2, 6-bis (diphenyl- phosphinomethyl) pyridine; R= C 6 H 5, p-CH 3 C 6 H 4, or p-ClC 6 H 4)) and [Pd (PPh 3) 2 Cl (CONHCH 2 COOCH 3)], whereas carbamoyl complexes of secondary amines, such as ...