Synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines by copper-catalyzed addition of acetone and ethyl diazoacetate to imines

1,3-Oxazolidines are obtained in high yields by copper-catalyzed addition of ethyl diazoacetate to imines in the presence of acetone. Hydrolysis of the oxazolidines with 6N HCl yields 1,2-amino alcohols.