Synthesis of benzoxazoles from imino esters I. 2-Alkyl(aryl)-substituted benzoxazoles

It is found that condensation of esters of iminocarboxylic and iminoperfluorocarboxylic acids with o-aminophenol is a convenient general method for preparing 2-alkyl, 2-perfluoroalkyl, and 2-aryl substituted benzoxazoles. Hydrochlorides of esters of iminocarboxylic acids react smoothly with o-aminophenol even at room temperature. Condensation of esters of iminoperfluorocarboxylic acids, whose hydrochlorides are unstable, is suitably carried out in the presence of an equimolecular quantity of the corresponding perfluorocarboxylic acid. 2-Alkyl(aryl) substituted benzoxazoles can also be obtained by heating o-aminophenol with esters of iminocarboxylic acids in the form of free bases. Esters of iminoperfluorocarboxylic acids also react similarly. Under similar conditions diesters of bisiminocarboxylic and bisiminoperfluorocarboxylic acids and o-aminophenol giveα, ω-di(benzoxazolyl-2) alkanes, andα, ω-di(benzoxazolyl-2) perfluoroalkanes respectively.