Facile formation of N-alkyl-oxazolidin-2-ones from N-alkyl- nitroxyethylamines and carbonate anion in biphasic media

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01877-2

Nitration of N-alkyl ethanolamines (1) followed by treatment of their corresponding N-alkyl-N-(2-nitroxyethyl)amine salts (2) in a biphasic CH₂Cl₂/aqueous Na₂CO₃ or NaHCO₃ mixture at 25°C gives N-alkyl- oxazolidin-2-ones (3). This represents a new method that allows the preparation of oxazolidinones at ambient temperature with the use of aqueous carbonate.