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Synthesis of imidazoles and benzimidazoles

Recent Literature


The copper-catalyzed reaction between two different isocyanides produces imidazoles in good yields. The mechanism is discussed.
C. Kanazawa, S. Kamijo, Y. Yamamoto, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 10662-10663.


A simple and efficient approach allows the preparation of biologically active 2,4(5)-diarylimidazoles by parallel synthesis. The formation of 2-aroyl-4(5)-arylimidazoles as side products strongly depends on the reaction conditions employed.
V. Zuliani, G. Cocconcelli, M. Fantini, C. Ghiron, M. Rivara, J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72, 4551-4553.


An improved and rapid one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl imidazoles in a room temperature ionic liquid does not need any added catalyst. This one-pot methodology offers excellent isolated yields, simple work up procedures and efficient recovery and recycling of the ionic liquid.
S. A. Siddiqui, U. C. Narkhede, S. S. Palimkar, T. Daniel, R. J. Lahoti, K. V. Srinivasan, Tetrahedron, 2005, 61, 3539-3546.


Fused bicyclic imidazole rings have been prepared in good yields by a sequence of the van Leusen three-component reaction and the ring-closing metathesis reaction.
V. Gracias, A. F. Gasiecki, S. W. Djuric, Org. Lett., 2005, 7, 3183-3186.


A set of benzimidazoles, 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines, purines, xanthines and benzothiazoles was readily prepared from (hetero)aromatic ortho-diamines or ortho-aminothiophenol and aldehydes using chlorotrimethylsilane in DMF as a promoter and water-acceptor agent, followed by oxidation with air oxygen.
S. V. Ryabukhin, A. S. Plaskon, D. M. Volochnyuk, A. A. Tolmachev, Synthesis, 2006, 3715-3726.


A highly efficient and versatile method for the synthesis of benzimidazoles was achieved in one step via the Na2S2O4 reduction of o-nitroanilines in the presence of aldehydes.
D. Yang, D. Fokas, J. Li, L. Yu, C. M. Baldino, Synthesis, 2005, 47-56.


A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles through a one-pot condensation of o-phenylenediamines with aryl aldehydes in the presence of H2O2 and HCl in acetonitrile at room temperature features short reaction time, easy and quick isolation of the products, and excellent yields.
K. Bahrami, M. M. Khodaei, I. Kavianinia, Synthesis, 2007, 417-427.


Various 2-arylbenzimidazoles were synthesized from phenylenediamines and aldehydes via a one-step process using hypervalent iodine as oxidant. This method features mild conditions, short reaction times, high yields, and a simple procedure.
L-H. Du, Y.-G. Wang, Synthesis, 2007, 675-678.


Addition of oxone to a mixture of a 1,2-phenylenediamine and an aldehyde in wet DMF results in rapid formation of benzimidazoles under very mild conditions. Products are isolated in high purity in most cases by simple aqueous precipitation. The reaction is applicable to a wide range of substrates but does not allow the conversion of aldehydes that are sensitive to oxone under acidic reaction conditions.
P. L. Beaulieu, B. Haché, E. von Moos, Synthesis, 2003, 1683-1692.


2-Imidazolines were easily prepared in good yields from the reaction of aldehydes and ethylenediamine with iodine in the presence of potassium carbonate. The 2-imidazolines were smoothly oxidized to the corresponding imidazoles in good yields using (diacetoxyiodo)benzene at room temperature.
M. Ishihara, H. Togo, Synlett, 2006, 227-230.


Different new reactions of IBX with heteroatom-containing substrates were discovered and their utility was demonstrated. IBX was used for the generation of imines from secondary amines in notably high yields, for oxidative aromatization of nitrogen heterocycles and for cleavage of dithianes. 
K. C. Nicolaou, C. J. N. Mathison, T. Montagnon, Angew. Chem., 2003, 115, 4211-4216.

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2-Lithioimidazole was prepared using lithium metal in the presence of a catalytic amount of isoprene in THF at room temperature. By reacting this organolithium compound with carbonyl electrophiles 2-(hydroxyalkyl)imidazoles and 2-(aminoalkyl)imidazoles were obtained in good yields.
R. Torregrosa, I. M. Pastor, M. Yus, Tetrahedron, 2005, 61, 11148-11155.