Regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of enantiopure 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones by intramolecular ring opening of 2-(Boc-aminomethyl) aziridines. Preparation of the antibiotic linezolid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ol800443p

The amide moiety of several enantiopure unactivated 1-aryl- or 1-alkylaziridine-2-carboxamides were reduced and then W-Boc-protected to afford enantiopure 2-(Boc-aminomethyl)aziridines, which were further converted into enantiopure 5-(aminomethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones by means of a stereospecific and fully regioselective BF₃-Et₂O-promoted intramolecular nucleophilic ring opening. One of these oxazolidinones was transformed into the antibiotic linezolid through a Cul-catalyzed N-arylation reaction at its carbamate moiety.