The cyclization/rearrangement of α-hydroxy ketones with trifluoromethyl N-acylhydrazones to synthesize multi-substituted trifluoromethyloxazolines

A highly efficient and metal-free [3+2] cyclization/rearrangement reaction toward the synthesis of multisubstituted trifluoromethyloxazolines from α-hydroxyketones and trifluoromethyl N-acylhydrazones has been developed. The unprecedented rearrangement of the amide fragment under acidic conditions after cleavage of the N-N bond of acylhydrazones has opened up new avenues for the development of reactions involving trifluoromethyl N-acylhydrazones. DFT calculations show that the mechanism involves multiple proton transfer processes.