Recent Progress in Iodine‐Catalysed C−O/C−N Bond Formation of 1,3‐Oxazoles: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Over the last few decades, iodine has been a stellar catalyst for numerous organic transformations such as C−H activation, hetero‐annulation and coupling reactions. In heterocyclic chemistry, iodine is primarily an economical and eco‐friendly catalyst that fascinates the construction of C−O/C−N bonds via oxidative, radical, and electrophilic pathways. Several novel Iodine‐catalyzed methodologies have been reported, presenting advances in heterocyclic synthesis with regioselectivity, wide substrate scope and excellent yields. Furthermore, feasible protocols implemented to get oxazole annulation in literature have an enormous impact on new synthetic applications. Therefore, this literature analysis comprises advancements in the field of iodine‐mediated 1,3‐oxazole synthesis since 1998. For the ease of the readers, the reported methodologies have been categorised based on iodine functioning in reactions with insight into the reaction mechanisms and highlights.