Tin(IV) chloride-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions of 5-alkoxy-2
-(p-methoxyphenyl)- or 2-phenyloxazoles with diethyl oxomalonate gave
2-oxazoline-4,5,5-tricarboxylates in high regioselectivity. 4-Substitu
ted 5-alkoxy-2-methyloxazoles showed a trend to shift the regioselecti
vity to offer more 3-oxazoline-2,5,5-tricarboxylates in terms of regio
selectivity than 2-oxazolines.