Synthesis of 2,5-diaryl-1,3-oxazoles containing a carbamate group

Acetophenones containing a methoxycarbonylamino group in position 2, 3, or 4 of the aromatic ring reacted with phenylglycine in the presence of 2 equiv of iodine and 0.5 equiv of sulfanilic acid in DMSO at 100°C for 6 h to give methyl [2(3,4)-(2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5-yl)phenyl]carbamates. The reaction was presumed to involve intermediate formation of methyl [(iodoacetyl)phenyl]carbamate. This was confirmed by the isolation of methyl [2-(iodoacetyl)phenyl]carbamate in the reaction of methyl (2-acetylphenyl)carbamate with iodine in glacial acetic acid and its subsequent transformation to methyl [2-(2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5-yl)-phenyl]carbamate.