Abstract The electrochemical hydroxylation of 1, 3-oxazolidin-2-one to 4-hydroxy-1, 3- oxazolidin-2-one is reported; a substantial side product is the symmetrical ether derived from the hydroxycompound. An improved synthesis of 3H-1, 3-oxazol-2-one has been developed; nothing more is involved than boiling the readily available 4-methoxy-1, 3-oxazolidin-2-one with an excess of acetic acid and one equivalent of acetic anhydride, evaporation of the ...