Synlett 2004(4): 663-666  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44989
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Focused Microwave-Assisted Parallel Synthesis of bis-Benzimidazoles

Mei-Jung Lin, Chung-Ming Sun*
Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974 Taiwan
Fax: +(886)8630110; e-Mail: cmsun@mail.ndhu.edu.tw;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 27 October 2003
Publication Date:
26 February 2004 (online)

Abstract

Combinatorial parallel synthesis of bis-benzimidazoles by focused (mono-modal) microwave irradiation is described. Polymer immobilized o-phenylenediamines as a versatile template was synthesized under microwave irradiation. The resulting PEG bound diamines was N-acylated with 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid selectively in primary aromatic amino moiety. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the amide obtained was performed with different amines then cyclized to benzimidazole in acidic condition. Successive reduction, cyclization with various aldehydes yielded 5-(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzimidazoles. The desired products were released from the polymer support to afford the tri-substituted bis-benzimidazoles in good yields and purity.

15

All the microwave assisted polymer-supported reactions described here were performed in a 50 mL round bottom flask (attached to the reflux condenser) with CEM Discover Microwave System at a frequency of 2450 Hz (0-300 W).
A Typical Procedure for the Synthesis of 4:
A mixture of polyethylene glycol (MW χα. 6000, 0.1 mmol), DCC (N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 0.15 mmol), DMAP (5 µmol) and 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid (0.15 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (10 mL) was irradiated under microwave cavity with an output at 300 W for 5 min. Upon completion of the reaction, Et2O (30 mL) was added to the reaction mixture in an ice-water bath to precipitate out PEG-bound compound. The precipitate was then collected on sintered glass funnel and thoroughly washed with Et2O (3 × 10 mL) following filtration. To 600 mg each of the above resin was added 3 equiv of primary amines and 10 mL CH2Cl2 at r.t. The reaction mixtures were irradiated in a microwave (300 W) for 5 min. After completion, polymer bound product was purified by precipitation method and was redissolved, precipitated twice and dried in vacuo. To 600 mg each of the above resin was added zinc (2.0 mmol) and NH4Cl (0.56 mmol) in CH3OH (10 mL) at r.t. The reaction mixtures were irradiated in microwave cavity with an output at 300 W for 6 min and the bright yellow color of the solution was observed to disappear. The same work-up procedure has been followed by precipitation to separate side products and desired polymer-supported diaminobenzene. The crude PEG product 4 was redissolved, precipitated twice and dried in vacuo for the next sequence.