Benzoxazole is an aromatic organic compound with a molecular formula C7H5NO, a benzene-fused oxazole ring structure, and an odor similar to pyridine. Although benzoxazole itself is of little practical value, many derivatives of benzoxazoles are commercially important.
Being a heterocyclic compound, benzoxazole finds use in research as a starting material for the synthesis of larger, usually bioactive structures. Its aromaticity makes it relatively stable, although as a heterocycle, it has reactive sites which allow for functionalization.
Occurrence and applications It is found within the chemical structures of pharmaceutical drugs such as flunoxaprofen and tafamidis. Benzoxazole derivatives are also of interest for optical brighteners in laundry detergents.E. Smulders, E. Sung "Laundry Detergents, 2. Ingredients and Products" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2012. Benzoxazoles belong to the group of well-known antifungal agents with antioxidant, antiallergic, antitumoral and antiparasitic activity.Şener, E., Yalçin, İ. and Sungur, E.: QSAR of some antifungal benzoxazoles and oxazolo(4,5-b)pyridines against C. Albicans. Quant. Struct.-Act. Relat. 10 (1991) 223-228.
See also Structural isomers Anthranil, an analog with the oxygen atom in position 2 Benzisoxazole, an analog with the nitrogen atom in position 2
Analogs Benzimidazole, an analog with the oxygen replaced by a nitrogen Benzothiazole, an analog with the oxygen replaced by a sulfur Benzopyrrole or indole, an analog without the oxygen atom Benzofuran, an analog without the nitrogen atom
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