Direct oxidative C-H arylation of benzoxazoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazides promoted by palladium complexes

This study describes a direct oxidative C-2 arylation of benzoxazoles using arylsulfonyl hydrazides as the aryl sources. A simple catalyst system [Pd(OAc) 2 and Ph 3P] allows the reactions to proceed smoothly under oxidative reaction conditions. Other heteroarenes such as caffeine and benzothiazole are also applicable substrates. Notably, this catalytic system tolerates halogen substituents which provides a useful complement to the current cross-coupling reactions which use aryl halides.