From propargylic amides to functionalized oxazoles: domino gold catalysis/oxidation by dioxygen.

A new, highly efficient, and atom-economic access to a series of functionalized 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles from propargylic amides is reported. A series of propargylic amides were transformed to the corresponding alkylideneoxazolines by a gold(I) catalyst. The next step was an autoxidation to hydroperoxides bearing the heteroaromatic oxazoles. Experiments addressing the reaction mechanism reveal a radical pathway for this autoxidation process. The hydroperoxides could conveniently be converted to the corresponding alcohols by reduction with sodium borohydride.