Mercury compounds oxazoles

A systematic study of substitution reactions of oxazole itself has not been reported. Bromination of 2-methyl-4-phenyloxazole or 4-methyl-2-phenyloxazole with either bromine or NBS gave in each case the 5-bromo derivative, while 2-methyl-5-phenyloxazole was brominated at C(4). Mercuration of oxazoles with mercury(II) acetate in acetic acid likewise occurs at C(4) or C(5), depending on which position is unsubstituted 4,5-di-phenyloxazole yields the 2-acetoxymercurio derivative. These mercury compounds react with bromine or iodine to afford the corresponding halogenooxazoles in an electrophilic replacement reaction (81JHC885). Vilsmeier-Haack formylation of 5-methyl-2-phenyloxazole with the DMF-phosphoryl chloride complex yields the 4-aldehyde. 

As in the case of oxazoles, the pyridine-like N-atom makes electrophilic substitution reactions more difficult. Thus thiazole does not react with halogens. Donor substituents enhance the reactivity, e.g. 2-methylthiazole reacts with bromine to give 5-bromo-2-methylthiazole. Thiazole cannot be nitrated. 4-Methylthiazole reacts slowly to yield the 5-nitro compound, 5-methylthiazole even more slowly to give the 4-nitro compound, but 2,4-dimethylthiazole reacts fastest producing 2,4-dimethyl-5-nitrothiazole. Sulfonation of thiazole demands the action of oleum at 250°C in the presence of mercury(II) acetate, and occurs at the 5-position. Acetoxymercuration of thiazole with mercury(II) acetate in acetic acid/water proceeds stepwise by way of the 5-acetoxymercury compound and the 4,5-disubstituted product to 2,4,5-tris(acetoxymercury)thiazole. 

Oxazoles have attracted considerable interest due their presence as subimits of several biologically active compounds or as rigid mimetics of a peptidic ring. A first synthesis of 2-phenyl-4,5-substituted oxazoles 54 [47] was described by microwave-assisted reaction of enolizable ketones with benzoni-trile in the presence of mercury(II) p-toluenesulfonate (Scheme 17). 

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