Recent developments in the synthesis of heterocyclic derivatives by PdI2-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation reactions

A simple catalytic system, consisting of PdI2 in conjunction with an excess of KI, has proven to be very valuable for the direct one-step synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic derivatives by oxidative carbonylation of suitably functionalized alkynes. The same catalyst also promoted the oxidative carbonylation of beta-amino alcohols to oxazolidin-2-ones with unprecedented catalytic efficiencies for this kind of reaction. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.