A series of some novel 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl]-benzoxazoles were synthesized by using benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid on reaction with thionyl chloride in presence of ethanol solvent at room temperature gave benzoxazole-2-carbonyl chloride, which is turned into benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide on reaction with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol solvent under reflux. The subsequent treatment of benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide with an appropriate aromatic carboxylic acid in presence of polyphosparic acid under reflux afforded the title compounds. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by their IR, ¹ H NMR and Mass spectral data analysis. Further the compounds are used to find out their ability towards anti microbial and nematicidal activity. The main objective of the medicinal chemistry is to synthesize the compounds that show promising activity as therapeutic agents with lower toxicity. During recent years there have been some interesting developments in the biological activities of benzoxazole derivatives. Benzoxazoles have special significance in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their remarkable pharmacological potentialities. Benzoxazoles have received considerable attention in diverse areas of chemistry. 1 2 The small and simple benzoxazole nucleus is present in compounds involved in research aimed at evaluating new products that possess interesting biological activities such as antiviral, 3 antimicrobial, 4 antifungal, 5 antiparkinson, 6 anticancer 7 and antibiotic 8 properties. They are also used as ligands for asymmetric transformations. 9 A number of methods have been reported for the synthesis of these heterocycles which include condensation of carboxylic acids 10 and their derivatives like orthoesters, 11 ⁻ 13 nitriles, 14 amides, 15 aldehydes 16 and esters 17 with o-substituted aminoaromatics. Beckmann rearrangement of o-acylphenol oximes 18 and photocyclization of phenolic Schiff bases also produce these compounds. 19 Synthetic routes that are common to the preparation of these heterocycles typically involve the reaction of a carboxylic acid or its derivatives with an appropriate 1,2-phenylenediamine, 2-aminophenol or 2-aminothio phenol in the presence of a strong acid at elevated temperatures. 20 21 The oxadiazole chemistry has been developed extensively and is still developing. Presently there are a number of drugs used clinically, which comprise oxadiazole moiety in association with various heterocyclic rings. 1, 3, 4-oxadiazoles are biologically active, synthetically useful and important heterocyclic compounds. The synthesis of novel oxadiazole derivatives and investigation of their chemical and biological behavior have gained more importance in recent decades for biological, medicinal and agricultural reasons. Different classes of oxadiazole compounds possess an extensive spectrum of pharmacological activities. Differently substituted oxadiazole moiety has also been found to have other important activities such as antibacterial, 22 antimalarial, 23 anti-inflammatory, 24 antifungal, 25 anticonvulsant, 26 analgesic, 27 antimicrobial, 28 antimycobacterial, 29 anticonvulsant, 30 antitumor, 31 antimalarial, 32 herbicidal, 33 vasodialatory, 34 cytotoxic, 35 hypolipidemic, 36 ulcerogenic 37 and antiedema. 38 The biological significance of these compounds impelled us to continue the work on the synthesis of some new and novel heterocycles. All reagents and solvents were used as purchased without further purification. Melting points were determined on a Fisher–ohns melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. Crude products were purified by column chromatography on silica gel of 60–120 mesh. IR spectra were obtained on a PerkinElmer BX serried FTIR 5000 spectrometer using KBr pellet. NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian 300 MHz spectrometer for ¹ H NMR. The chemical shifts were reported as ppm down field using TMS as an internal standard. Mass spectra were recorded on a VG-Micromass 7070H spectrometer operating at 70 eV. To a solution of benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid 1 (0.01 mol) in ethanol (20 ml), thinly chloride (0.01 mol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 h. After completion of the reaction (monitored by TLC, EtOAc: petroleum-ether, 2:1) then the mixture was poured in water (30 ml) and extracted with Et ₂ O (3 × 20 ml). The organic phase was separated, and dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ . Evaporation of the solvent gave benzoxazole-2-carbonyl chloride 2 in 69% yields as brown solid; m.p.: 125–127 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3035, 1775, 1635, 1579, 1552, 1498, 1147; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.46 (d, 1H, J = 8.0 Hz, Ar-H), 7.83 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H), 7.98 (d, 1H, J = 8.5 Hz, Ar-H), 8.12 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 181 (M ⁺ ). To a mixture of benzoxazole-2-carbonyl chloride 2 (0.01 mol) in 10 ml of absolute ethanol and hydrazine hydrate (0.04 mol), was added. Then the reaction mixture was refluxed for 8 h. After completion of the reaction (monitored by TLC), it was then diluted with ice-cold water (20 ml) and the solid obtained was purified by crystallization from ethanol to afford pure product benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide 3 in 72% yields as pale yellow solid; m.p.: 136–138 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3038, 1780, 1640, 1582, 1565, 1152; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ) δ: 5.65 (s, 2H, NH ₂ ), 7.41 (d, 1H, J = 8.1 Hz, Ar-H), 7.65 (dd, 1H, J = 7.8, 1.1 Hz, Ar-H), 7.71 (s, 1H, CONH), 7.89 (d, 1H, J = 8.7 Hz, Ar-H), 8.05 (dd, 1H, J = 7.8, 1.1 Hz, Ar- H); MS, m/z (%) 177 (M ⁺ ). A mixture of benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide 3 (0.01 mol) and substituted benzoic acid (0.01 mol) was heated at 100–120 ℃ in presence of excess polyphosphoric acid (PPA) for 4–5 h. After cooling, the mixture was poured into crushed ice, and neutralized with 5% aq. NaHCO ₃ solution. The precipitated solid was filtered and purified using column chromatography (petroleum ether: ethyl acetate, 9:1). Yellow solid; Yield : 75%, m.p.: 154–156 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3040, 1795, 1652, 1565, 1545, 1135; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.42–7.25 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.53 (d, 1H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.80 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H), 7.89 (d, 1H, J = 8.0 Hz, Ar-H), 8.45 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 263 (M ⁺ ). Brown solid; Yield : 78%, m.p.: 174–176 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3045, 1785, 1648, 1584, 1565, 1155; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.54–7.05 (m, 4H, Ar-H), 7.66 (d, 1H, J = 8.0 Hz, Ar-H), 7.75 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.85 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz, Ar-H), 8.12 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.8 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 297 (M ⁺ ). Pale yellow solid; Yield : 74%, m.p.: 145–147 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3025, 1790, 1632, 1570, 1555, 1152; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d ₆ ) δ: 7.50–7.06 (m, 4H, Ar-H), 7.52 (d, 1H, J = 7.9 Hz, Ar-H), 7.84 (dd, 1H, J = 8.1, 1.7 Hz, Ar-H), 8.12 (d, 1H, J = 8.5 Hz, Ar-H), 8.65 (dd, 1H, J = 8.1, 1.7 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 342 (M ⁺ ). Yellow solid; Yield : 75%, m.p.: 165–167 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3020, 1802, 1630, 1585, 1565, 1152; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 2.40 (s, 3H, CH ₃ ), 7.54–7.06 (m, 4H, Ar-H), 7.62 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.95 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H), 8.21 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz, Ar-H), 8.45 (dd, 1H, J = 7.5, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 277 (M ⁺ ). Brown solid; Yield : 70%, m.p.: 144–146 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3015, 1795, 1652, 1619, 1582, 1135; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.42 (d, 1H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.65 (d, 2H, J = 7.4 Hz, Ar-H), 7.78 (dd, 1H, J = 7.3, 1.7 Hz, Ar- H), 7.84 (d, 2H, J = 7.4 Hz, Ar-H), 8.21 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz, Ar-H), 8.32 (dd, 1H, J = 7.3, 1.7 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 297 (M ⁺ ). Yellow solid; Yield : 77%, m.p.: 136–138 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3020, 1785, 1632, 1608, 1585, 1145; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.36 (d, 1H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.65 (d, 2H, J = 7.0 Hz, Ar-H), 7.74 (d, 2H, J = 7.0 Hz, Ar-H), 7.81 (dd, 1H, J = 8.0, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H), 8.05 (d, 1H, J = 8.1 Hz, Ar-H), 8.43 (dd, 1H, J = 8.0, 1.5 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 342 (M ⁺ ). Pale yellow solid; Yield : 75%, m.p.: 158–160 ℃; IR (KBr, cm ⁻¹ ) ν _max : 3025, 1805, 1625, 1595, 1575, 1155; ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 2.80 (s, 3H, CH ₃ ), 7.52 (d, 1H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.54 (d, 2H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar-H), 7.65 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.4 Hz, Ar-H), 7.74 (d, 2H, J = 7.8 Hz, Ar- H), 7.85 (d, 1H, J = 8.2 Hz, Ar-H), 8.42 (dd, 1H, J = 7.7, 1.4 Hz, Ar-H); MS, m/z (%) 311 (M ⁺ ). Inspired by the biological profile of benzoxazole and oxadiazoles and their increasing importance in pharmaceutical and biological fields, and in continuation of our research on biologically active heterocycles considering the scope to introduce 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety into the benzooxazole, it is thought worthwhile to undertake the synthesis of the title compounds with the view to obtain certain new chemical entities with both active pharmacophores in a single molecular frame work for the intensified biological activities. Accordingly, in this manuscript we describe the synthesis of the 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2- yl]-benzoxazoles 4a – g . The syntheses of the compound 4 commenced from commercially available benzoxazole-2- carboxylic acid 1 . The benzoxazole-2-carbonyl chloride 2 , the key intermediate, has been prepared in 69% yield by stirring of a mixture of benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid 1 and thionyl chloride in presence of ethanol solvent at room temperature for 3 h as in 1 . Formation of the compound 2 was confirmed by its spectral analysis. The IR spectrum of 2 showed the absorption band corresponding to the C=O and C=N groups at 1775 and 1635 cm ⁻¹ respectively. The remaining absorption bands appeared at 1579, 1552 (C=C, aromatic), 1147 (C–O) cm ⁻¹ . The proton NMR spectrum of compound 2 showed a signal at δ 8.12 ppm, as a double doublet integrating for one proton is assigned for aromatic protons and the remaining aromatic signals at δ 7.98 ppm for one proton, at δ 7.83 ppm for proton and at δ 7.46 ppm for proton appeared as doublet, double doublet and doublet respectively. The mass spectrum of compound showed molecular ion peak at m/z 181. The benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide 3 , intermediate for the synthesis of title compounds, has been prepared by the dehydrohalogenation of benzoxazole-2- carbonyl chloride 2 with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of ethanol solvent at reflux for 8 h to yield compound 3 in 72%. Formation of the compound 3 was confirmed by its spectral analysis. In the IR spectrum of 3 the absorption band appeared at 1780 and 1640 cm ⁻¹ which are characteristic of C=O and C=N stretching vibrations respectively. The remaining absorption bands appeared at 1582, 1565 (C=C, aromatic), 1152 (C–O) cm ⁻¹ . The proton NMR spectrum of the compound 3 showed signals at δ 8.05 ppm for one proton and at δ 7.65 for one proton, both as double doublet integrating the aromatic protons. The remaining two aromatic protons appeared at d 7.89 ppm as doublet for one proton and at δ 7.41 ppm also as doublet for proton. At d 7.71 ppm as a singlet, integrating for one proton is assigned to the CONH group. Another singlet signals at δ 5.65 ppm, integrating for one proton is assigned to the NH ₂ group. The mass spectrum of the compound 3 showed molecular ion peak at m/z 177. The compound benzoxazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide 3 , when reacted with different aromatic carboxylic acids in the presence of polyphsphoric acid (PPA) at reflux temperature for 4–5 h afforded the title compounds, 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl]-benzoxazoles 4a – g in 70–78% yields. Formation of the compound 2-(5-Phenyl-[ 1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)benzoxazole 4a was confirmed by its spectral analysis. In the IR spectra of compounds 4a absorption bands corresponding to the C=O and C=N appeared at 1795 and 1652 cm ⁻¹ respectively. The absorption band signal for C–O group appeared at 1135 cm ⁻¹ . ¹ H NMR spectrum of compound 4a showed two resonance signals at δ 8.45 ppm and at δ 7.80 ppm as double doublets for two protons corresponding to aromatic protons. Another two aromatic protons of benzoxazole ring gave two signals at δ 7.89 ppm and at δ 7.53 ppm as doublets with J value 8.0 Hz and 7.8 Hz respectively. The aromatic protons of phenyl ring appeared between δ 7.42–7.25 ppm as multiplet, integrating for five protons. Mass spectrum of compound 108a showed a peak at m/z 263 (M ⁺ ), confirming the structure of compound 4a . In summery all the chemical structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by their IR, ¹ H NMR, Mass and further the compounds were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the newly prepared 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl]-benzoxazoles 4a – g was screened against four human pathogenic bacteria viz., Escherichia coli, Klebseilla pneumoniae, Shigella dysentriae and Shigella flexnei . The zone of inhibition in mm at concentration 100 μg/mL was determined using the cup-plate method. 39 40 Standard antibacterial agents such as Streptomycin and Neomycin were also screened under similar conditions for comparison and the results are presented in 1 . The antibacterial screening data of the compounds 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol- 2-yl]-benzoxazoles 4a–g showed that the compounds 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and 4f were highly active against the entire organism employed. Compound 4c is highly active against all the test organisms employed and the zone of inhibition is more than the standard drug Neomycin, and almost equal to the standard drug Streptomycin. The other compounds showed moderate to good activity against these organisms employed. All the compounds displayed significant activity against E. coli ( 1 ). The compounds 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol- 2-yl]-benzoxazoles 4a–g were also screened for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae at concentration of 500 μg/mL using cup-plate method. 41 The antifungal activity of the compounds was compared with the standard drug Griseofulvin. The zones of inhibition formed were measured in mm and are given in 2 . The antifungal screening data of the compounds 4a – g showed that, the compounds 4d (2-methyl phenyl moiety) and 4f (4- bromo phenyl moiety) are showing significant activity. Compound 4d is highly active against A. niger, C. albicans and A. flavus . The other compounds showed moderate to good activity against these organisms ( 2 ). All the newly synthesized compounds 4a–g in this study was assayed for their nematicidal activity against Ditylenchus myceliophagus and Caenorhabditis elegans by aqueous in vitro screening technique, 42 at various concentrations. For the nematicidal assay the D. myceliophagus was extracted from the cultivated mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ) infected with the nematode. The C. elegans was grown on 10 cm 8P plates on a E. coli NA22 bacteria diet, which grow in a very thick layer and constitute an abundant food source for large quantities on nematode. The nematode water suspension was collected in petri dishes. Suspension of adult worms from five day old culture was diluted with approximately 100 to 250 nematodes/mL of water, 100 μL of the nematode suspension was introduced into a solution of each test compound at various concentrations in a well of 24-well plates and incubated at 25 ℃. The results have been expressed in terms of LD ₅₀ i.e. median lethal dose at which 50% nematodes became immobile (dead), and compared with the standard drug Levamisole. The screened data reveal that, 4e is the most effective against D. myceliophagus and C. elegans with LD ₅₀ of 170 and 190 ppm, respectively. The compounds 4f and 4g are also most active against C. elegans with LD ₅₀ of 200 ppm and D. myceliophagus with LD ₅₀ of 190 ppm, respectively. The activity of 4e is almost equal to the activity of the standard Levamisole. The other tested compounds showed moderate activity ( 3 ). In conclusion, a series of novel 2-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[ 1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl]-benzoxazoles 4a – g have been designed and synthesized. The antimicrobial and nematicidal activity of these compounds was evaluated against various bacteria, fungi and nematodes. Among the synthesized compounds, almost all compounds showed good activity against bacteria, fungi and nematodes and emerged as potential molecules for further development.