Unusual behaviour of N‐cinnamoyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐arylethylamines in pictet‐gams cyclization. Synthesis of 2‐styryl‐5‐aryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐2‐oxazolines

Cyclization of N‐acyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)arylethylamines 4 under Pictet‐Gams conditions afforded 2‐oxazolines 5 instead of the expected isoquinolines 6 . The effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the result of the reaction is discussed.