Stereocontrolled, Divergent, Al(lll)-Catalyzed Coupling of Chiral N-Aryl Epoxy Amines and CO2.

A divergent coupling reaction was achieved between N-aryl epoxy amines and CO2. By using two different cocatalysts, tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) or 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) together with an Al(III) Lewis acid, cyclic carbonates or oxazolidinones were selectively produced through two distinct reaction pathways, respectively. The proposed reaction mechanism was supported by the stereochemical determination of the products. A gram-scale production of Linezolid was successfully achieved.