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

Abstract

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.