Electrochemical generation of 4-amino-2-aryl-2-oxazolines

A convenient method for the synthesis of the title compounds has been established. Chloralbenzamides were efficiently converted to N-(1-amino-2,2-dichloroethyl)benzamides which were directly transformed to 4-amino-2-aryl-2-oxazolines in fair to good yields by electrochemical reduction in an aprotic medium under constant cathodic potential. The molecular structure of the electrolysis products has been corroborated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of 4-(1-benzyl-3-phenylureido)-2-phenyl-2-oxazoline.