Benzoyl chloride → 6-Methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazole

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Reaction Steps

Benzoyl chloride (79 ml) was slowly added to a stirred suspension of 6-amino-m-cresol (83 gm) in pyridine (600 ml). The temperature was kept below 5° C. The solution was heated under reflux for 2 hr., then was evaporated to dryness to give an oil. This oil was extracted with aqueous 2N sodium hydroxide solution. The aqueous layer was made acid with cooncentrated hydrochloric acid. The solid, N-(2'-hydroxy-4'-methylbenzanilide), m.p. 170° C, was filtered off. This product was heated until no more water was evolved. The resulting liquid was allowed to cool and the solid produced was powdered and taken up in petroleum ether. The solution was treated with carbon and the filtrate evaporated to dryness to yield 6-methyl-2-phenylbenzoxazole, m.p. 93° C.

Provenance & Evidence