A novel series of ethylenic naphth[2,3-d]oxazole-4,9-diones was synthesized
via an S(RN)1 mechanism from the 2-chloromethylnaphth[2,3-d]oxazole-4,9-di
one. This mechanism was confirmed by the inhibitory effects of the use of d
ark, bubbling oxygen, cupric chloride, p-dinitrobenzene and TEMPO.