Palladium-catalyzed incorporation of atmospheric CO(2): efficient synthesis of functionalized oxazolidinones

Methods to incorporate atmospheric CO(2) into organic molecules are on demand. Here we present two Pd-catalyzed multicomponent reactions that provide functionalized oxazolidinones from propargylamines, aryl halides and CO(2) as starting materials. These transformations, devoid of high CO(2) 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.