Iodine-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 3-cyanoacetylindoles with benzylamines: facile access to 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles

An iodine-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 3-cyanoacetylindoles with benzylamines has been developed. This reaction enables the convenient synthesis of a variety of 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles under mild conditions with broad functional group compatibility.