1,8-Diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene

1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, or more commonly DBU, is a chemical compound and belongs to the class of amidine compounds. It is used in organic synthesis as a catalyst, a complexing ligand, and a non-nucleophilic base.

Occurrence
Although all commercially available DBU is produced synthetically, it may also be isolated from the sea sponge Niphates digitalis. The biosynthesis of DBU has been proposed to begin with adipaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopropane.

Uses
As a reagent in organic chemistry, DBU is used as a ligand and base. As a base, protonation occurs at the imine nitrogen. Lewis acids also attach to the same nitrogen.

These properties recommend DBU for use as a catalyst, for example as a curing agent for epoxy resins and polyurethane.

It is used in the separation of fullerenes in conjunction with trimethylbenzene. It reacts with C70 and higher fullerenes, but not with C60.

It is useful for dehydrohalogenations.