Magnetic binary MgFe oxides were prepared by co-precipitation method, characterized and tested in the synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones from epoxides and carbamates. The catalytic results showed that the catalyst with Mg/Fe molar ratio of 1 and calcined at 400 °C exhibited superior catalytic activity. The catalyst could be magnetically separated, recycled and reused for five runs without noticeable deactivation. Under the optimized conditions, various 2-oxazolidinones derivatives were successfully synthesized with good to excellent isolated yields.

Keywords: 2-oxazolidinone; Epoxide; Carbamate; Solid base; Magnetic oxides

★★★☆☆ J. Shang et al. / Catalysis Communications 28 (2012) 13–17