2-Phenyl-4-(methoxymethylene)-5(4H)-oxazolone, prepared by heating 5 g. hippuric acid (I), 3.2 g. HC(OMe)3 (II), and 6 g. anhydrous AcOH at 75-95° 5 hrs., colorless needles, m. 110-12°, yield, 1.2 g.Addnl. 5(4H)-oxazolones described: 2-phenyl-4-(ethoxymethylene), colorless needles, m. 93°; 2-styryl-4-(ethoxymethylene), from N-cinnamoylglycine and HC(OEt)3 with anhydrous AcOH at 110-30° 1.5 hrs., light yellow needles, m. 103°; 2-benzyl-4-(methoxymethylene), needles, m. 88°; 2-benzyl-4-(ethoxymethylene), needles, m. 77-8°; 2-phenyl-4-(hydroxymethylene), needles, m. 138°; 2-styryl-4-(hydroxymethylene), needles, m. 175°; 2-phenyl-4-(diethylaminomethylene), yellow needles, m. 52-4°; 2-phenyl-4-(carboxymethylaminomethylene), yellow needles, m. 189-92°; 2-phenyl-4-(anilinomethylene), m. 142-6°; 2-phenyl-4-(benzylmercaptomethylene), light yellow needles, m. 121-3°; 2-phenyl-(4-mercaptomethylene), light yellow needles, m. 174-7°.