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The Boulton–Katritzky reaction represents one of the most popular and efficient strategies used to realize azole-into-azole conversions. For example, under different experimental conditions, it allows the rearrangement of Z-arylhydrazones of 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles (1) into 2-aryl-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles (2) in very high yields. Moreover, we have recently realized this conversion also by UV-photostimulation. Now we have enlarged the scope of the reaction irradiating with visible or UV light an acetonitrile solution of some Z-arylhydrazones (1a–e) in the presence of catalytic amounts of Ru(bpy)2Cl2. We have observed the unexpected formation of the 1-aryl-5-benzoylamino-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoles (3a–e) eventually together with the expected 2a–d in high yields.

A series of 6-substituted fluorinated indazoles has been obtained through an ANRORC-like rearrangement (Addition of Nucleophile, Ring-Opening and Ring-Closure) of 5-tetrafluorophenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles with hydrazine. The initial addition of the bidentate nucleophile to the electrophilic C(5) of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring, followed by ring opening and ring closure, leads to the formation of fluorinated indazoles in high yield under mild experimental conditions. Functionalization of the C(6) in the final indazole nucleus was preliminarily achieved through a nucleophilic aromatic substitution on the starting 5-pentafluorophenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole.

The reaction of some fluorinated 1,2,4-oxadiazoles in the presence of methylamine or propylamine has been investigated. The irradiation in methanol or acetonitrile leads with acceptable yields to the corresponding fluorinated 1- methyl- or 1-propyl-1,2,4-triazole.

The photoreactivity of allyl benzoates, containing an electron-rich double bond, has been explored by irradiation at 305 nm in different solvents. Solvent addition products arising from an insertion of the alpha H–C bonds of THF, dioxane, and i-PrOH to the allylic double bond was realized. The observed reactivity depended on reaction conditions and substitution pattern of the substrate. A DFT study on this unusual reaction was performed allowing the formulation of two mechanistic pathways.

This is the first report of the rearrangement of 1,2,4-oxadiazole with saturated C—C—O side chains and an unusual example of an irreversible rearrangement that allows the formation of nonaromatic heterocycles.

Highly substituted 4,4′-biimidazoles were synthesized, in good to excellent yields, through a multicomponent imidazole ring synthesis by using imidazol-4-yl-ethane-1,2-diones as starting materials. The obtained compounds were preliminarily tested as chromogenic and fluorescent sensors for heavy metals.

Two novel thermal rearrangements are presented: the addition of allylamine (II) to oxadiazoles proceeds via ring-opening followed by cycloaddition.

Substituted derivatives such as (Ib,c) react with very high degree of stereochemistry explained by a cationic palladacycle intermediate similar to the one postulated for the Cope-rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.

The reaction must be carried out under nitrogen atmosphere in deoxygenated solvent to prevent the oxidation of the imidazole products.

The hydrazinolysis of the oxadiazoles under optimized conditions allows a general synthesis of functionalized aminotriazole products which are of interest due to the biological activity of the heterocyclic system.

A new variation on the Boulton-Katritzky reaction is reported, namely, involving use of a CNC side chain. A novel Montmorillonite-K10 catalyzed nonreductive transamination of a 3-benzoyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole afforded a 3-(alpha-aminobenzyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole, which was condensed with benzaldehydes to afford the corresponding imines. In the presence of strong base, these imines underwent Boulton-Katritzky-type rearrangement to afford novel 4(5)-acylaminoimidazoles.

The thermal rearrangement of N-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl-hydrazones into 1,2,4-triazole derivatives is reported. This represents the first example of a three-atom side-chain rearrangement involving an NNC sequence linked at the C(3) of the oxadiazole. The reactions carried out under solvent-free conditions produced good to high yields of the final products.

Fluoroalkylated 2-ylamino-imidazoles have been synthesized by reaction of 3-amino-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole with fluorinated β-dicarbonyl compounds and subsequent base-induced Boulton–Katritzky Rearrangement (BKR) of the isolated β-enaminocarbonyl intermediate. Alternatively, one-pot reactions performed in the presence of Montmorillonite K10 favoured the condensation at the 3-amino moiety of the oxadiazole and, in some cases, allowed the direct synthesis of 2-benzoylamino-imidazoles. Hydrolysis of 2-benzoylamino-imidazoles easily yielded fluorinated 2-amino-imidazoles targets.