N-Acylation of Oxazolidinones via Aerobic Oxidative NHC Catalysis.

The first N-acylation of synthetically useful oxazolidinones with aldehydes using aerobic oxidative NHC catalysis is reported. The reaction offers a broad scope of functionalized oxazolidinones in good to excellent yields. Careful choice of electron transfer mediators proved pivotal to achieve efficient aerobic N-acylation, which has previously proven difficult using NHC catalysis. The methodology allows a mild entry to acylated oxazolidinones, avoiding the use of hazardous and reactive prefunctionalized substrates.