The Reaction of 1,2-Amino Alcohols with Carbon Dioxide in the Presence of 2-Pyrrolidone Electrogenerated Base. New Synthesis of Chiral Oxazolidin-2-ones

The study of the reactivity of 1,2-amino alcohols toward carbon dioxide in the presence of 2-pyrrolidone electro- generated base allowed to establish a new methodology for the synthesis of oxazolidin-2-ones. Chiral oxazolidin- 2-ones (Evans' chiral auxiliaries) were obtained in good to high yields avoiding the use of toxic, polluting or dangerous reagents. This methodology represents a further example of the direct employment of carbon dioxide as a source of carbon in organic synthesis.