Difunctional heterocycles: A convenient one pot synthesis of novel bis(benzoxazoles) from bis(o-aminophenols)

New bis(benzoxazoles) 14 and 17 have been synthesized in excellent yields from the corresponding bis(o-aminophenols) by refluxing with triethyl orthoformate. 6,6′-Bis(benzoxazole) ( 14 ) has also been prepared utilizing Gold's reagent. Compound 14 is inert to Reissert reaction conditions. However, the Reissert reaction on 5,5′-bis(benzoxazole) (17) led to ring opened product 20 .