Aryl substituted oxazolinyloxiranes 1a-g have been found to undergo smooth isomerization into oxazolinyl substituted aryl alkanones 2a-g upon treatment with LDA in Et 2 O at -98 o C, warming to room temperature and quenching with satd aq. NH 4 Cl. A mechanism involving an oxazoline-assisted ortho lithiation of the aryl group (cis to the oxazoline system) of oxiranes 1 is proposed.