Studies of oxazoles

Mercuration of oxazole derivatives is studied. As a result mono- and disubstituted mercury derivatives, hitherto not described in the literature, are obtained. The ability of the oxazole ring to undergo mercuration decreases in the order C-5>C-4 C-2. It is shown that phenyl-substituted oxazoles are mercurated solely, or mainly at least, at an unsubstituted carbon atom in the heterocyclic ring, actual phenyl substituents in the oxazoles remaining inert towards mercuration.