Polymer supported diol functionalized ionic liquids: An efficient, heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for 5-aryl-2-oxazolidinones synthesis from CO2 and aziridines under mild and solvent free condition

Polymer supported diol functionalized ionic liquids (PS-DFILXs) were investigated as an efficient, heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for coupling of carbon dioxide (CO2) to aziridines providing high conversion with excellent regioselectivity towards 5-aryl-2-oxazolidinones under mild and solvent free conditions. The developed methodology was found to be applicable for wide variety of 1-alkyl-2-arylaziridines producing the corresponding 5-aryl-2-oxazolidinones with good yields and excellent regioselectivity. The hydroxyl groups present on vicinal carbon of PS-DFILX proved crucial for higher efficiency of catalyst. In addition, the catalyst could be reused for four consecutive recycles without significant loss in its catalytic activity and selectivity. Hence, the developed process represents environmentally benign chemical fixation pathway of CO2 for synthesis of 5-aryl-2-oxazolidinones under mild condition. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.