Unconventional oxazole formation from isocyanides

Abstract

The coupling of an acyl chloride with an isocyanide affords 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles under mild basic conditions instead of 4,5-disubstituted derivatives when using Schöllkopf conditions (butyllithium); this reaction constitutes a remarkable example of a base-induced chemoselective process in isocyanide chemistry.