Iron(III) Chloride/L-Proline as an Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of 3-Substituted 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles from Amidoximes and Triethyl Orthoformate.

A general, facile, and efficient method is presented for the synthesis of 3-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from amidoximes and triethyl orthoformate. The procedure employs an iron(III) chloride/L-proline catalytic system and the 3-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole products are obtained in moderate to good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]