Some novel reactions of 2-amino-4-methyloxazole with aldehydes: Aryl and alkyl hydoxymethylation at C-5

2-Amino-4-methyloxazole reacts with aldehydes to give products having a hydroxymethyl function at C–5. No Schiff's bases were formed. Reactions seem to be confined to 4-alkyl substituted-2-aminooxazoles as 2-aminooxazole and its 4-phenyl and 2-acetomido derivatives fail to react with aldehydes. The nature of the aldehyde affects the amount of the product formed.