Merging Gold/Copper Catalysis and Copper/Photoredox Catalysis: An Approach to Alkyl Oxazoles from N-Propargylamides

Here, we report a mild and highly efficient approach to alkyl oxazoles through merging gold/copper catalysis and copper/photoredox catalysis. Various alkyl oxazoles are synthesized from N-propargylamides with alkyl halides in good to excellent yields with wide functional-group compatibility under blue-light irradiation. Significantly, a copper catalyst plays a dual role in this transformation: as a powerful cocatalyst to accelerate protodeauration of vinyl gold intermediates and improve photoredox catalysis.

Automated summary

A mild and highly efficient approach to alkyl oxazoles has been reported, utilizing a combination of gold/copper catalysis and copper/photoredox catalysis. Various alkyl oxazoles can be synthesized with good to excellent yields and wide functional-group compatibility under blue-light irradiation. The copper catalyst plays a dual role in accelerating protodeauration of vinyl gold intermediates and enhancing photoredox catalysis in this transformation.