Visible-light-promoted aerobic oxidative cyclization to access 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from aldehydes and acylhydrazides

A novel and practical access to symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles directly from aldehydes and acylhydrazides using visible light irradiation under an air atmosphere in the presence of eosin Y as an organophotoredox catalyst at rt is reported. This is the first example of oxidative cyclization of acylhydrazones employing air and visible light as inexpensive, readily available, non-toxic, and sustainable reagents. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.