Base-promoted tandem ring-opening/ring-closing of N-alkynyl-2-oxazolidinones enables facile synthesis of 2-oxazolines

Org Biomol Chem. 2024 Oct 31. doi: 10.1039/d4ob01561d. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

A K2CO3-promoted tandem ring-opening/ring-closing of N-alkynyl-2-oxazolidinones has been described, affording 2-oxazolines in 42-99% yields without column chromatography isolation. This operationally simple reaction proceeds under ambient conditions without a transition-metal catalyst and an external oxidant and can be applied for the late-stage functionalization of biologically active compounds.