A simple and environmentally safe procedure for the preparation of 2-(o-ami
nophenyl)oxazolines from isatoic anhydride is presented. A series of chiral
derivatives of the title compound is prepared in moderate yield via natura
l kaolinitic clay catalyzed reactions with optically pure 2-aminoalcohols.
Reaction of polymer-supported isatoic anhydride under these conditions with
chiral 2-aminoalcohols proceeds to furnish polymer-anchored analogues.