A facile synthesis of 4-methylene-1,3-oxazolidines from γ-hydroxybutynoate and N-tosylimines

Both nucleophilic and basic catalysts have been used to promote the cyclization reactions between γ-hydroxybutynoate and N-tosylimines to afford 4-methylene-1,3-oxazolidines in good yields. E- and Z-isomers of the final products have been isolated and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray data.