N-carbamylamino alcohols as the precursors of oxazolidinones via nitrosation-deamination reaction

Oxazolidinones were effectively prepared from N-carbamylamino alcohols by treatment with nitrous acid, via N-nitroso compound as the intermediate. A new route to (R)-4-benzyloxazolidinone was developed starting from DL- phenylalanine, utilizing D-hydantoinase-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of 5-benzylhydantoin under the dynamic kinetic resolution conditions, and the subsequent reduction to the precursor for the above-mentioned cyclization reaction, by taking advantage of the intermediates bearing an N-carbamylamino functionality.