Metal-free approach for imidazole synthesis via one-pot N-α-C(sp3)–H bond functionalization of benzylamines

Abstract

A metal-free one-pot method is established for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles from the reaction of arylmethylamines and 1,2-dicarbonyls/benzoin. The N-α-C(sp³)–H bond functionalization of arylmethylamines using a catalytic amount of AcOH afforded polysubstituted imidazoles under aerobic conditions in significant yields of up to 95%.