The versatile conversion of propargylic amides to the respective 2-substituted 5-methyloxazoles was efficiently catalyzed by Zn(OTf)₂ (5 mol%) under microwave irradiation in toluene. The method was applicable to a wide range of aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic propargylic amides and thus represents a useful method which is complementary to the existing metal-catalyzed protocols, considering the ready availability of Zn(OTf)₂.