Benzimidazole motifs in drug discovery: sustainable synthetic strategies and emerging biological applications

Abstract

Benzimidazole compounds have laid a strong foundation both in the domains of synthetic organic chemistry and in biological advances. The green synthesis of these materials, which favour sustainability with respect to nature is highly important. Photocatalysis, microwave-assisted and ultrasound-assisted synthesis of benzimidazoles have numerous advantages over conventional methods of synthesis. Various modes of synthesis and catalysis have been developed to take benzimidazole chemistry to different levels, producing attractive compounds in high yields and lowering the formation of impurities. Apart from their synthetic protocols, benzimidazoles have shown great performance in their biological actions in antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimycobacterial evaluations. Therefore, we here discuss recent progress in the green synthetic methods of benzimidazoles with their advances in producing biologically active compounds – possibly future potential drug candidates!