A novel improved procedure for the synthesis of oxazoles

Abstract

In the present work a novel improved and convenient procedure for the synthesis of oxazoles has been developed. Acetamide, instead of ammonium acetate, was used to react with phenacyl benzoates in boiling xylene in the presence of BF3/Et2O as the catalyst. According to this new synthetic route, nine oxazole compounds were readily prepared as single products in reasonably high yields. On the basis of the experimental results, a plausible mechanism of this reaction is proposed.