Facile Synthesis of 3-Alkyl-5-methyloxazolidine-2,4-diones and N-Lactoyl-N,N′-dialkylureas

Abstract

The reaction between aliphatic amines and propylene carbonate can be performed in solventless conditions under microwave irradiation, becoming nearly complete within 15 min of irradiation. Oxidation of the formed mixture of 2-hydroxyethylcarbamates gives 3,5-methylalkyl-oxazolidine-2,4-diones. These compounds can react further with aliphatic primary amines to give N-lactoylureas.

Keywords:

• 3,5-Dialkyl-oxazolidine-2,4-diones
• N-lactoyl-N,N′-dialkylureas
• solventless reaction

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank CEM Srl. (Innovators in Microwave Technology) for providing us with the instrumentation for microwave irradiation and Mr. Umberto Vallone, Mr. Andrea Rota, and our student Luca Gabrielli for help in performing the experiments.

Notes

^a In a microwave oven at 200 W, 2450 MHz for 15 min.