A simple and easy access to 3-N-alkyl-5-vinyloxazolidinones mediated by palladium–phosphine catalysts

A new entry for the synthesis of 3-alkyl substituted 5-vinyloxazolidin-2-one derivatives from cis-2-butenylene-1,4-dicarbonate and primary amines mediated by palladium–phosphine catalysts is described. The scope and limitation, a plausible mechanism, and an asymmetric version of the reaction are also discussed.