Design and synthesis of 3-acyl-2(3H)-benzoxazolone and 3-acyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone derivatives

A simpler and efficient “green” method using solid sodium hydroxide in a solvent mixture of acetone/water was found to catalyze N-acylation of 2(3H)-benzoxazolones and 2(3H)-benzothiazolones for facile and rapid synthesis of N-acyl derivatives in excellent yields. This method was applied to the synthesis of a series of 132 compounds employing a variety of acyl chlorides.