p-Nitro-α-acylaminoacetophenone was prepared from either p-nitroacetophenone oxime p-tolyl ester by a method similar to the Beckmann rearrangement reaction or by introducing p-nitrobenzoyl group into 2-phenyl-5 (4H)-oxazolone. By aldol condensation, the Pondorff's reduction, hydrolysis and dichloroacetylation of the above compound, dl-chloramphenicol was obtained.
