Abstract
Various substituted oxazolo[5,4-b]pyridines 5a-d have been synthesized by condensation of appropriate hydroxyaminopyridines and aldehydes followed by oxidative cyclization of the resulting Schiff's bases with lead tetraacetate. This method has been extended to the synthesis of the DNA minor groove binding ligands 5e and 5f related to Hoechst 33258 1.