Electroreductive Ring-Opening Carboxylation of 1,3-Oxazolidin-2-ones with CO 2 for Accessing β-Amino Acids.

Electrocarboxylation of the C(sp 3 )-O bond in 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones with CO 2 to achieve β-amino acids is developed. The C-O bond in substrates can be selectively cleaved via the single electron transfer on the surface of a cathode or through a CO 2 •   - intermediate under additive-free conditions. A great diversity of β-amino acids can be obtained in a moderate to excellent yield and readily converted to various biologically active compounds.