One-pot synthesis of benzoxazoles via the metal-free ortho-C–H functionalization of phenols with nitroalkanes

PPA-activated nitroalkanes are employed in the design of a one-pot cascade transformation involving metal-free and oxidant-free direct ortho-C–H functionalization, followed by Beckman rearrangement and intramolecular cyclocondensation to produce benzoxazoles and benzobisoxazoles directly from easily available phenols.