Synthesis of 2-oxazolidinone catalyzed by palladium on charcoal: a novel and highly effective heterogeneous catalytic system for oxidative cyclocarbonylation of β-aminoalcohols and 2-aminophenol

Oxidative cyclocarbonylation of β-aminoalcohols and 2-aminophenol to synthesize corresponding 2-oxazolidinones catalyzed by a Pd/C–I2 heterogeneous catalytic system has been developed which gave excellent selectivity and high turnover frequency (TOF) values 15 times larger than the best results previously reported. The catalyst could be reused for five times almost without losing its catalytic activity and selectivity. The effects of promoters, pretreatment, solvents, and reaction conditions have been investigated.