Synthesis of Oxazolidin-2-ones from Unsaturated Amines with CO by Using Homogeneous Catalysis.

Carbon dioxide (CO ), a well-known greenhouse gas, is also a nontoxic, readily accessible, and renewable one-carbon (C1) source. However, owing to its thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness, the efficient utilization of CO is challenging. Much effort has been devoted to achieving efficient and selective organic transformations of CO . Recently, the synthesis of important oxazolidin-2-ones from unsaturated amines by using CO has attracted much attention and been heavily studied. This Focus Review presents recent advances in this area by using homogenous catalysis. The cyclization of amines that contain alkynes, alkenes, and allenes with CO is discussed, and possible reaction mechanisms and applications of these transformations are also described.