Studies on Selective Metalation and Cross-Coupling Reactions of Oxazoles

Abstract

AbstractA general study on selective functionalization of unsubstituted oxazole is reported. Specific halogenation at C2 and C5 was enabled by a sequential deprotonation strategy that was based on the different pK a values of these positions, while a halide at C4 may be introduced by an optimized halogen dance reaction. Efficient protocols for subsequent sp2–sp2 and sp2–sp3 cross-coupling reactions of the derived oxazolyl halides were then established. This modular approach was applied in the total synthesis of ajudazol A and a selected analogue, demonstrating the general feasibility of these conditions in a complex setting.