Biomimetic oxidative coupling of benzylamines and 2-aminophenols: synthesis of benzoxazoles.

Aerobic oxidation: in a biomimetic approach, a mixture of redox catalysts forms couples that effect the aerobic oxidation of a mixture of benzylamine and 2-aminophenol derivatives to give the corresponding benzoxazoles. This biomimetic oxidation proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and the protocol can also be used for preparing benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles.