Hypervalent iodine(iii) promoted tandem reaction of o-fluoroanilines with formamides to construct 2-aminobenzoxazoles

Abstract

A simple and practical synthesis of 2-aminobenzoxazoles has been developed from commercially available o-fluoroanilines, and formamides. This process can be performed in the absence of metal catalysts with high levels of functional group tolerance. Hypervalent iodine(III) was both an oxidant and a Lewis acid for this reaction. A variety of substituents can be introduced into each position of the benzoxazole backbone (C-4 to C-7), providing handles for further elaboration.