Synthesis of chiral oxazolidin-2-ones by 1,2-amino alcohols, carbon dioxide and electrogenerated acetonitrile anion

An improved electrochemical synthesis of chiral oxazolidin-2-ones from chiral 1,2-amino alcohols is obtained by direct electrolysis of solutions of MeCN TEAP containing the amino alcohol, with subsequent CO2 bubbling and addition of TsCl. This synthesis avoids any addition of bases or probases and yields oxazolidinones in high yields. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.