Regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of enantiopure 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones by intramolecular ring opening of 2-(Boc-aminomethyl)aziridines. Preparation of the antibiotic linezolid.

The amide moiety of several enantiopure unactivated 1-aryl- or 1-alkylaziridine-2-carboxamides were reduced and then N-Boc-protected to afford enantiopure 2-(Boc-aminomethyl)aziridines, which were further converted into enantiopure 5-(aminomethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones by means of a stereospecific and fully regioselective BF3.Et2O-promoted intramolecular nucleophilic ring opening. One of these oxazolidinones was transformed into the antibiotic linezolid through a CuI-catalyzed N-arylation reaction at its carbamate moiety.