AUTHOR=Putta Ramachandra Reddy , Chun Simin , Lee Seok Beom , Oh Dong-Chan , Hong Suckchang 

TITLE=Iron-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols With Aromatic Diamines: Selective Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2020.00429

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2020.00429

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=Benzimidazoles are important N-heteroaromatic compounds with various biological activities and pharmacological applications. Herein, we present the first iron-catalyzed selective synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles via acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols with aromatic diamines. The tricarbonyl (η4-cyclopentadienone) iron complex catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization, releasing water and hydrogen gas as byproducts. The earth abundance and low toxicity of iron metal enable the provision of an ecofriendly and efficient catalytic method for the synthesis of benzimidazoles.