Synthesis of 2-Methyl-2-oxazoline

2-Methyl-2-oxazoline was prepared from N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-acetamide using zinc acetate hydrate as catalyst.The effect of catalyst amount,reaction temperature,reaction time and reaction pressure was studied.The optimum reaction conditions were:m(catalyst):m(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-acetamide)=0.15∶1;reaction temperature,185 ℃;reaction pressure,0.01 MPa;reaction time,about 2 h.The yield of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline can reach92 %.The reuse of catalyst was investigated.The product was identified by MS.