Facile synthesis of 2-benzoxazoles via CuI/2,2'-bipyridine catalyzed intramolecular C–O coupling of 2-haloanilides

Development of newer methods for the synthesis of Benzoxazoles has of greater interest due to their wide range of biological activities and pharmaceutical importance. We herein report a facile and general method for the synthesis of 2-substituted Benzoxazoles via copper catalyzed intramolecular C–O cross-coupling of 2-haloanilides. A combination of CuI (5?mol%), 2,2'-bipyridine (10?mol%), Cs₂CO₃ (2 equiv.) in DMF solvent with 4?Å molecular sieves at 140?°C, illustrated the scope for tuning the reactivity of 2-haloanilides toward the selective formation of a series of 2-alkyl benzoxazole derivatives in moderate to good yields. This is the first systematic study using CuI/2,2'-Bipyridine as the catalytic system for the synthesis of 2-substituted Benzoxazoles. The outcome of the reaction was found to be significantly influenced by the aromatic and amide substituents of 2-haloanilides.