Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles from o-aminophenol derivatives with arylmethyl chlorides

A facile and efficient synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles via copper-catalyzed tandem condensation/oxidative reaction of o-aminophenol derivatives with arylmethyl chlorides was developed. Note that this reaction utilized arylmethyl chlorides as a new type of simple and cheap acyl sources and KNO3 as a readily available and low-cost benign oxidant.