Abstract
By an efficient biomimetic synthetic method, several novel 2-substituted benzimidazoles, benzoxazoles, and benzothiadazole were readily prepared in good yields under mild conditions with 2-substituted imidazolinium iodides as the tetrahydrofolate model compounds at the oxidation level of formate. The reaction is probably involved in a nucleophilic addition to the C=N bond at the imidazolinium ring, followed a 1,3-H migration at an imidazolidine intermediate and a salt elimination.
Keywords: Benzimidazole, benzoxazole, benzothiadazole, biomimetic synthesis, imidazolinium iodide, transfer reaction, tetrahydrofolate model.
Graphical Abstract