I2-mediated oxidative C-O bond formation for the synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from aldehydes and hydrazides.

A practical and transition-metal-free oxidative cyclization of acylhydrazones into 1,3,4-oxadiazoles has been developed by employing stoichiometric molecular iodine in the presence of potassium carbonate. The conditions of this cyclization reaction also work well with crude acylhydrazone substrates obtained from the condensation of aldehydes and hydrazides. A series of symmetrical and asymmetrical 2,5-disubstituted (aryl, alkyl, and/or vinyl) 1,3,4-oxadiazoles can be conveniently generated in an efficient and scalable fashion.