Synthesis of benzoxazolones from nitroarenes or aryl halides.

A simple and effective method for the preparation of benzoxazolones from nitroarenes or aryl halides is described. Partial reduction of a nitro group in the presence of a chloroformate followed by a microwave-assisted rearrangement/ring closure sequence provides a convenient and practical procedure to prepare this important pharmacophore. Rearrangement precursors were also accessed from aryl halides through transition-metal-catalyzed coupling.