A new synthetic approach is presented for the synthesis of naphthoxazoles and fused heterobenzoxazoles. The starting 5-(aryl/furyl/thienyl/pyridyl ethenyl) oxazoles are prepared from the corresponding α, β-unsaturated aldehydes using Van Leusen reagent in very good yields and are transformed into naphthoxazoles and fused heterobenzoxazoles on irradiation under aerobic conditions and in the presence of iodine.