A facile synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones via Hofmann rearrangement mediated by bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene

A mild and efficient synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones from β-hydroxypropionamides via Hofmann rearrangement was achieved in 96% to quantitative yield using bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene (BTI) in acetonitrile. The method should be useful in both solution- and solid-phase construction of 2-oxazolidinone libraries.