Palladium-catalyzed incorporation of atmospheric CO2: efficient synthesis of functionalized oxazolidinones

Methods to incorporate atmospheric CO2 into organic molecules are on demand. Here we present two Pdcatalyzed multicomponent reactions that provide functionalized oxazolidinones from propargylamines, aryl halides and CO2 as starting materials. These transformations, devoid of high CO2 pressures, represent a streamlined stereocontrolled synthesis of previously inaccessible versions of these useful heterocycles in an atom-economic manner, as up to four new single bonds are formed in a single synthetic operation.