Synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines from imines and epoxides catalyzed by samarium compounds

A new method for the synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidine derivatives has been developed. Thus, a variety of 1,3-oxazolidines was prepared by the reaction of imines with epoxides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a samarium compound such as SmI2, SmI3, or Cp*2Sm(thf)2.