A novel method for the synthesis of 2-oxazolines

Herein, we report a microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-oxazolines from a carboxylic acid and amino alcohol by using dehydrating reagent carbonyl diimidazole (CDI). The developed methodology was successfully utilized for the synthesis of key intermediate oxazoline 2k (methyl 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole-4-carboxylate) of natural products Mycobactin S, Mycobactin T, and Spoxazomicin C. The salient features of this synthetic method are low reaction time, high yield, one-pot synthesis, and no requirement for harsh reaction conditions.