Catalyst-free microwave-promoted one pot synthesis of 2-aryl benzoxazoles using MnO2 nanoparticles as a convenient oxidant under mild condition

Abstract

An efficient and facile protocol for one pot synthesis of a series of 2-aryl benzoxazoles through coupling of o-aminophenol with aromatic aldehydes under microwave irradiation in the presence of MnO2 nanoparticles as oxidant reagent was demonstrated. The MnO2 nanoparticles were prepared via a solid-state chemical reaction technique. The structure of oxidant was assigned by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The target molecules were obtained in good to high yields, high purity and short reaction times. The pure products were identified and characterized by physical and spectral data such as; melting point, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR.