Montmorillonite K-10 mediated Erlenmeyer synthesis of 4-arylmethylene-2- phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolones

Abstract

Aromatic aldehydes and hippuric acid in acetic anhydride undergoes classical Erlenmeyer synthesis in the presence of a catalytic amount of Montmorillonite K-10 to afford the corresponding azlactones in excellent yields with high selectivity. The azlactone formation does not proceed in the absence of either acetic anhydride or Montmorillonite.