(Salen)chromium(III)/DMAP: an efficient catalyst system for the selective synthesis of 5-substituted oxazolidinones from carbon dioxide and aziridines.

[reaction: see text] (Salen)chromium(III)/DMAP was found to be an active catalyst system for the coupling of CO(2) and aziridines. The oxazolidinone products were produced in high yield and selectivity from the opening of the aziridine at the most substituted N-C bond. This catalyst system worked well for a wide variety of monosubstituted N-aryl and N-alkyl aziridines as well as a 2,3-disubstituted N-alkyl aziridine.