Palladium-catalyzed sequential C-N/C-O bond formations: synthesis of oxazole derivatives from amides and ketones.

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of oxazole derivatives from simple amides and ketones has been established via a Pd(II)-catalyzed sp(2) C-H activation pathway in one step. The reaction is supposed to proceed through a C-N bond formation followed by a C-O bond formation closing the ring. Because of the simple and readily available starting materials, easy operation, and high bioactivity of oxazoles, this strategy can be broadly applied to medical chemistry.