Trapping carbamates of α-Amino acids: One-Pot and catalyst-free synthesis of 5-Aryl-2-Oxazolidinonyl derivatives

Carbonation of natural α-amino acids in water and subsequent cyclization with (2-bromo-1-arylethyl)dimethylsulfonium bromides led selectively to a family of 2-oxazolidinonyl derivatives, which were isolated without the needing of purification. Analogous conjugation of the 2-oxazolidinone skeleton with amino acids was previously realized by complicated and narrow-scope routes, whereby the amino acid core is built stepwise. Deprotonation of some of the products afforded the corresponding water-soluble carboxylates, while a straightforward, proof of concept esterification reaction of the carboxylic acid group yielded a menthol-alanine-oxazolidinone conjugate.