Synthesis of R -N-propionyl-4,5,5-trimethyl-l, 3-oxazolidin-2-one

The 125 mL stainless steel autoclave was flushed with nitrogen. 

The N-propionyl-5,5-dimethyl-4-methylene-l,3-oxazolidin-2-one, the ruthenium catalyst and methanol (10 mL) were placed in the autoclave under nitrogen atmosphere. 

The autoclave was sealed, flushed with hydrogen and pressurized with 10 MPa of hydrogen. The mixture was stirred for 18 hours at 50 °C under 10 MPa of hydrogen. 

Once the autoclave had cooled to room temperature, the autoclave was carefully depressurized, the solution was poured into a 50 mL round bottomed flask and the autoclave was rinsed with methanol (5mL). The solvent was removed by using a rotary evaporator. 

The hydrogenated carbamate can be recovered free of ruthenium catalyst by sublimation under reduced pressure using a Kugelrohr apparatus (bp 80 °C, 1.5mmHg). 

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