Manganese-catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Amido Alcohols with Liberation of Hydrogen for the Synthesis of Oxazoles

Abstract

Syntheses of important classes of (heterocyclic) compounds, the sustainable generation of hydrogen, and the use of abundantly available metals are highly desirable. We introduce here a catalytic oxazole synthesis. Our reaction is a regio selective, one-pot reaction and starts from esters and amino alcohols. Both are abundantly and diversely available and inexpensive starting materials. Hydrogen is liberated during the reaction and a molecular earth-abundant metal catalyst, a Mn(I) compound, mediates the reaction most effectively - and more efficiently than Ir and Ru catalysts. None of the oxazole derivatives synthesized, except the screening substrate and an active ingredient of a drug (an application), have been reported in literature yet.