A new route to 2-(trifluoromethyl)benzimidazoles is described which involves the condensation
of (2-arylamino)iminophosphoranes with trifluoroacetyl esters or trifluoroacetic anhydride.
The method allows the synthesis of the title compounds from simple nitroarenes without
the use of separate reduction steps and metallic reagents or expensive catalysts.
Key words
cyclization - condensation - heterocycles - annulation - benzimidazoles