Iodine(III)-Catalyzed Formal [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition Reaction for Metal-Free Construction of Oxazoles.

The iodine(III) catalyst, in situ generated from iodoarene as a precatalyst with m-CPBA and Tf2NH, promoted the metal-free [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition-type reactions of alkynes, nitriles, and oxygen atoms for the regioselective formations of 2,4-disubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazole. A first example of iodine catalysis for multicomponent reactions is represented.