Iodine-catalyzed amination of benzoxazoles: a metal-free route to 2-aminobenzoxazoles under mild conditions.

A facile metal-free route of oxidative amination of benzoxazole by activation of C-H bonds with secondary or primary amines in the presence of catalytic iodine in aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide proceeds smoothly at ambient temperature under neat reaction condition to furnish the high yield of the aminated product. This user-friendly method to form C-N bonds produces tertiary butanol and water as the byproduct, which are environmentally benign. The application of the methodology is demonstrated by synthesizing therapeutically active benzoxazoles.