Catalyst-free synthesis of coumarin-, quinolone- and pyridine-annulated oxazole derivatives

An efficient approach for the synthesis of coumarin-, quinolone- and pyridine-annulated oxazole derivatives has been achieved by direct base-mediated intramolecular carbon–oxygen bond formation in a transition metal catalyst-free protocol. Intramolecular cyclization of o-bromoamides in DMSO in the presence of Cs2CO3 at 130°C affords heterocycle-annulated oxazole derivatives in high yields via a nucleophilic addition of amide to form the C–O bond.