Carbonylation with CO2 andPhosphorus Electrophiles: A Convenient Method for the Synthesisof 2-Oxazolidinones from 1,2-Amino Alcohols

2-Oxazolidinones were prepared in good yields from 1,2-amino alcohols and CO 2 in the presence of tetramethyl-phenylguanidine (PhTMG) as a base and a variety of phosphorus electrophiles under mild conditions. This procedure is advantageous over previous methodologies and relies on a novel carbonylation procedure that utilizes nontoxic CO 2 and phosphorus electrophiles.