Synthesis of 2-Oxazolidinones by Direct Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of 2-Amino-1-alkanols

[reaction: see text] 2-Oxazolidinones 2 are obtained in excellent yields (up to 100%) and with unprecedented catalytic efficiencies (up to 2000 mol of product/mol of catalyst used) by direct PdI2/KI-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of the readily available 2-amino-1-alkanols 1. Reactions are carried out in MeOH as the solvent at 100 degrees C using a 1/6/5 CO/O2/air mixture (60 atm total pressure at 25 degrees C).