Iodine-catalysed oxidative cyclisation of acylhydrazones to 2,5-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Abstract

An environmentally benign synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles has been developed starting from N-aroylhydrazones and N-acetylhydrazones at room or ambient temperature using a catalytic quantity of iodine in the presence of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide oxidant.