A practical one-pot protocol for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles from 1-aryl-2-nitroethanones was reported. In the presence of iron/AcOH in acetonitrile, the reaction of 1-aryl-2-nitroethanones with trimethyl orthoacetate or trimethyl orthobenzoate delivered the corresponding 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles in moderate to good yields.
