Cobalt-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cyclization of 2-Aminophenols with Isonitriles: 2-Aminophenol Enabled O2 Activation by Cobalt(II).

An aerobic cobalt-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-aminophenols and isonitriles is reported. These additive-free conditions furnish a variety of substituted 2-aminobenzoxazoles in moderate to excellent yields. A series of control experiments and spectroscopic studies point to the importance of 2-aminophenol coordination in enabling the aerobic oxidation of cobalt(II).