This paper reports our recent results from synthesis of some useful heterocycles, for example oxazolidinones, indoles, and quinoxalinones, by transition metal-catalyzed cascade processes. The scope and limitations of these procedures and the reaction mechanism for formation of the heterocycles are also discussed.
Reaction of dimethyl (Z)-2-butenylene dicarbonate la with primary amines in the presence of [Pd(eta(3)- C3H5)Cl](2) and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) produced vinyl-oxazolidone compounds 2 in up to 70% yield. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.