An Efficient and Eco-Friendly Tungstate Promoted Zirconia (WO x /ZrO2) Solid Acid Catalyst for the Synthesis of 2-Aryl Benzimidazoles

Molecularly Engineering Defective Basal Planes in Molybdenum Sulfide for the Direct Synthesis of Benzimidazoles by Reductive Coupling of Dinitroarenes with Aldehydes

Developing more sustainable catalytic processes for preparing N-heterocyclic compounds in a less costly, compact, and greener manner from cheap and readily available reagents is highly desirable in modern synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of benzimidazoles by reductive coupling of o-dinitroarenes with aldehydes in the presence of molecular hydrogen. An innovative molecular cluster-based synthetic strategy that employs Mo₃S₄ complexes as precursors have been used to engineer a sulfur-deficient molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)-type material displaying structural defects on both the naturally occurring edge positions and along the typically inactive basal planes. By applying this catalyst, a broad range of functionalized 2-substituted benzimidazoles, including bioactive compounds, can be selectively synthesized by such a direct hydrogenative coupling protocol even in the presence of hydrogenation-sensitive functional groups, such as double and triple carbon-carbon bonds, nitrile and ester groups, and halogens as well as diverse types of heteroarenes.

Selective Synthesis of Benzimidazoles from o-Phenylenediamine and Aldehydes Promoted by Supported Gold Nanoparticles

We investigated the catalytic efficacy of supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) towards the selective reaction between o-phenylenediamine and aldehydes that yields 2-substituted benzimidazoles. Among several supported gold nanoparticle platforms, the Au/TiO₂ provides a series of 2-aryl and 2-alkyl substituted benzimidazoles at ambient conditions, in the absence of additives and in high yields, using the mixture CHCl₃:MeOH in ratio 3:1 as the reaction solvent. Among the AuNPs catalysts used herein, the Au/TiO₂ containing small-size nanoparticles is found to be the most active towards the present catalytic methodology. The Au/TiO₂ can be recovered and reused at least five times without a significant loss of its catalytic efficacy. The present catalytic synthetic protocol applies to a broad substrate scope and represents an efficient method for the formation of a C–N bond under mild reaction conditions. Notably, this catalytic methodology provides the regio-isomer of the anthelmintic drug, Thiabendazole, in a lab-scale showing its applicability in the efficient synthesis of such N-heterocyclic molecules at industrial levels.

Heterogeneous Catalytic Synthesis of 2-Methylbenzimidazole from 2-Nitroaniline and Ethanol Over Mg Modified Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3

The direct synthesis of benzimidazoles from 2-nitroaniline and ethanol over Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalysts has the advantages of requiring easily available starting materials, having high efficiency, and a simple procedure. The modification by Mg of the Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst could improve the catalytic activity significantly. The addition of Mg to the Cu-Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst could maintain and promote the formation of CuPd alloy active sites. Meanwhile, the basicity of the support was enhanced appropriately by Mg, which generated more basic sites (Al-Oδ−) to accelerate the dehydrogenation of alcohol and increased the rate of the whole coupled reaction. The 2-nitroaniline was completely converted over Cu-Pd/(Mg)γ-Al2O3 after reacting for six hours, and the yield of 2-methylbenzimidazole was 98.8%. The results of this work provide a simple method to develop a more efficient catalyst for the “alcohol-dehydrogenation, hydrogen transfer and hydrogenation” coupled reaction system.

Cu–Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyzed the coupling of multi-step reactions: direct synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives

Catalyzed by the synergy effects of Cu–Pd bimetal and acidity of γ-Al₂O₃, the transfer hydrogenation and successive cyclization coupling reaction from o-nitroaniline and alcohol to afford benzimidazole derivatives in high yield was realized.

Trichloroisocyanuric Acid/Triphenylphosphine-Mediated Synthesis of Benzimidazoles, Benzoxazoles, and Benzothiazoles

A new and efficient method for preparation of benzimidazoles, benzoxazoles, and benzothiazoles from reactions of different carboxylic acids with o-phenylenediamine, o-aminophenol, and o-aminothiophenol in the presence of triphenylphosphine/trichloroisocyanuric acid system is presented. The desired products have been characterised on the basis of spectral (infrared, NMR, mass spectrometry) data, and the mechanism of their formation is proposed. The remarkable advantages are the inexpensive and readily available reagent, simple procedure, mild conditions, and good-to-excellent yields.

Zirconyl (IV) Nitrate as Efficient and Reusable Solid Lewis Acid Catalyst for the Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives

The present paper introduces a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles by heterocyclization of differento-phenylenediamines and substituted aromatic carboxylic acid/aldehyde in the presence of zirconyl nitrate as catalyst in ethanol under reflux, which produced excellent yield of corresponding benzimidazoles in a short reaction time with reusability of catalyst.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzimidazoles Using Air as the Oxidant

A simple, environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles by the one-pot condensation of o-phenylenediamines with aromatic aldehydes using continuous bubbling of air in absolute ethanol at room temperature is described. The simplicity of the system, mild conditions, involvement of a non-toxic and practically inexhaustible oxidant, easy and quick isolation of the products, and moderate to good yields are the main advantages of this procedure.