convenient and robust catalyst/ligand-free synthesis of benzazole-2-ones through the reaction of aniline derivatives and sodium cyanate in aqueous medium

a novel, practical and green synthesis of benzazole-2-ones by the reaction of anilines with sodium cyanate has been reported. good to excellent yields of products have been obtained under catalyst- and ligand-free conditions in water as solvent. this procedure avoids the use of time-consuming and tedious column chromatography and the products were easily isolated by simple extraction followed by washing with dichloromethane.