A general and practical route for the high yield oxidative conversion of readily accessible 1,4-dihydropyridines to the corresponding pyridines is described using a relatively benign oxidant, manganese triacetate.
A concise synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles, 5a-f, is described that occurs via the oxidative cyclization of Schiff's bases, 1a-f, using relatively benign reagent, manganese triacetate.