Rate coefficients have been measured for the base-catalysed hydrolysis of a series of (Z)-4-benzylidene-2-(substituted phenyl)-4H-oxazol-5-ones in 70% v/v aqueous dioxan at various temperatures. The enthalpies and entropies of activation, and a Hammett reaction constant for the reaction, have been evaluated. The 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts were assigned, as well as the IR carbonyl stretching frequencies in chloroform, after deconvolution and band separation. Successful correlations between the carbonyl stretching wavenumbers and the 13 C NMR chemical shifts and the rates of the alkaline hydrolysis were found.