A New Pathway to 2-Arylbenzoxazoles and 2-Arylbenzothiazoles Via One-Pot Oxidative Cyclization Reactions Under Iron-Organic Framework Catalysis

Abstract

Iron-organic framework MOF-235 was synthesized, and consequently utilized as a productive heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles and 2-arylbenzothiazoles via one-pot oxidative cyclization reactions between 2-aminophenols or 2-aminothiophenols and alcohols. The transformation was considerably controlled by the oxidant and the nature of solvent, and the system of di-tert-butylperoxide with xylene led to best yield of major products. The MOF-235 catalyst presented higher catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles and 2-arylbenzothiazoles than a number of MOF-based catalysts and established homogeneous catalysts. Recovering and reutilizing the framework catalyst for the cyclization transformation was possible while its catalytic activity was retained. To the best of our knowledge, this iron-catalyzed one-pot oxidative transformation to produce 2-arylbenzoxazoles and 2-arylbenzothiazoles under heterogeneous catalysis conditions was not previously reported in the literature.