Synthesis of Substituted Oxazoles by Visible-Light Photocatalysis

A simple and practical method for the synthesis of substituted oxazoles has been developed using readily available α-bromoketones and benzylamines by visible-light photocatalysis at room temperature. The process, which requires 1 mol % of [Ru­(bpy)3]­Cl2 photocatalyst with K3PO4 and CCl3Br, is effective for accessing a variety of valuable oxazole compounds. The synthetic utility of our protocol was also demonstrated by preparing a natural product, texaline.