A Facile Synthesis of 2-Aminobenzoxazoles and 2-Aminobenzimidazoles Using N-Cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (NCTS) as an Efficient Electrophilic Cyanating Agent.

A facile synthesis of 2-aminobenzoxazole and 2-aminobenzimidazole derivatives employing a nonhazardous electrophilic cyanating agent: N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (NCTS) with various substituted 2-aminophenols and benzene-1,2-diamine derivatives in the presence of lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) is described. This novel protocol boasts operational simplicity, shorter reaction time, and simple workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]