Palladium-Catalyzed Direct (Hetero)arylation of Ethyl Oxazole-4-carboxylate: An Efficient Access to (Hetero)aryloxazoles

Abstract

A straightforward route toward 2-(hetero)arylated and 2,5-di(hetero)arylated oxazoles through regiocontrolled palladium-catalyzed direct (hetero)arylation of ethyl oxazole-4-carboxylate with iodo-, bromo-, and chloro(hetero)aromatics followed by a two-step hydrolysis/decarboxylation sequence was described. The method was applied here to a neat synthesis of two 2,5-di(hetero)aryloxazole natural products, balsoxin and texaline.