I/TBHP-mediated oxidative cascade cyclization of vinyl azide and benzylamine to construct 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles.

A one-pot facile synthesis of disubstituted oxazoles has been achieved from vinyl azide and benzylamine. A coherent mixture of iodine and -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) efficiently promoted oxidative cascade cyclization to construct 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles under aerobic conditions. Notably, the oxidative cyclization involves feasible C(sp)-functionalization with the elimination of the azide group as the intermediate step.