Cobalt-Catalyzed Sustainable Synthesis of Benzimidazoles by Redox-Economical Coupling of o-Nitroanilines and Alcohols

Tuning Surfactant Chain Length in a Metallomicellar Catalyst System to Study Organic Transformations in Water Medium

The hydrophobicity of alkyl chain plays crucial role in the aggregation behavior of metallomicelle-forming coordination complexes, in water, thereby influences the reaction rates of metallomicelle catalyzed organic reactions. Here, we have demonstrated the chain length variation for alkyl group that is covalently attached to ligand backbone of a MoO2(Ln)(OH2) type complex showing metallomicelle formation in water when the alkyl group is eight-carbon chain or beyond. The impact of alkyl chain length on reactivity of organic transformation was systematically studied for oxidative coupling of benzylic alcohol with 1,2-diaminobenzene forming benzimidazole, in water, as a model reaction. The efficiency of Mo-complexes increases with chain length for the mentioned organic reaction performed in water medium under open air as sole oxidant without the involvement of base/additive, thus making the protocol attractive. This work develops a unique study to understand organic reactions in micellar medium as well as an efficient pathway for the direct synthesis of benzimidazoles from alcohols and diamines.

Electrochemically driven reductive cyclization of o-nitroanilines: synthesis of 1,2-fused benzimidazoles and benzo[d]imidazoles

The electrochemical synthesis of 1,2-fused benzimidazoles and benzo[d]imidazoles from o-nitroanilines in an undivided cell under constant current conditions was developed. The electrosynthesis proceeded through a tandem process involving nitro reduction/C(sp3)-H amination/condensation. The method can accommodate a broad range of o-nitroanilines and results in the desired products in yields of up to 99%. A plausible reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of controlled experiments and cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. The benefits of the developed method include one-pot synthesis, open-air conditions, gram-scale synthesis and no requirement for a strong reductant.

An organocatalytic domino annulation approach via C(sp2)-OMe cleavage to unlock the synthesis of pyranochromenones enabled by HFIP

Fused pyranochromenone derivatives have extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we report the first HFIP/TsOH catalyzed, one-pot domino reaction by cleavage of the C(sp2)-OMe bond. Control experiments reveal that 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene is rapidly protonated in the presence of HFIP to yield a dearomatized cationic diene intermediate. The gram-scale reaction and late-stage functionalization of natural products justified the practicality of this protocol.

Synthesis of imines from the coupling reaction of alcohols and amines catalyzed by phosphine-free cobalt(II) complexes

Phosphine-free, air stable cobalt(II) based complexes (1a and 1b) consisting of ligands L1H2 and L2H2 (L1H2 = N,N'-((1,2-phenylenebis(azaneylylidene))bis(methaneylylidene))diphenol and L2H2 = N,N'-bis(4-diethylaminosalicylidene)-4,5-dichloro-1,2-phenylenediamine) were synthesized and utilized as catalysts in the coupling reaction of alcohols with amines into imines following an acceptorless dehydrogenative pathway. The reactions were carried out in the presence of t-BuOK base with low catalyst loading (1 mol%) in an open atmosphere. The corresponding imines were isolated in moderate to excellent yields. The methodology was screened with different substituted alcohols and amines. The proposed mechanistic pathway of this reaction was ascertained through intermediate mass and 1H NMR analyses. Most of the previously reported 3d transition metal catalysts used in imine synthesis reactions have a phosphine ligand environment, and the reactions were performed under inert conditions. Herein we have developed a sustainable route for the synthesis of imines from the coupling reaction of alcohols with amines under aerial reaction conditions using phosphine-free air stable cobalt catalysts.

Room-Temperature Synthesis of Biogenic δ-MnO2 NPs for the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Diamines with Alcohols for Benzimidazole and Quinoxaline Synthesis: An Efficient Catalyst for Electrochemical Applications

An efficient, unique, and eco-friendly biogenic synthesis of single-crystalline δ-phase manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) using Gliricidia sepium leaves (GSL) extract at room temperature has been revealed for the first time. The active chemicals present in the GSL extract were found to serve as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The catalyst shows an excellent surface area of 301.13 m2 g-1, a mean pore diameter of 4.01 nm, and 39.97% w/w of active metal content. The reactivity of the synthesized catalyst was demonstrated by achieving a one-pot synthesis of benzimidazoles and quinoxalines via an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling strategy utilizing biorenewable alcohols. The release of hydrogen gas was observed as the only side product and proven by its successful utilization for alkene reduction which supports the mechanistic elucidation. The release of hydrogen gas as a useful byproduct highlights the scientific importance of the present methodology. Additionally, gram-scale synthesis and catalyst recyclability studies are deliberated. Importantly, the δ-MnO2 NP catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity and high durability toward hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media, highlighting the dual use of the catalyst. The δ-MnO2 NPs attain the current density of 10 mA/cm2 at an overpotential of 154 mV with a Tafel slope of 119 mV/dec.

Applying green chemistry principles to iron catalysis: mild and selective domino synthesis of pyrroles from nitroarenes

An efficient and general cascade synthesis of pyrroles from nitroarenes using an acid-tolerant homogeneous iron catalyst is presented. Initial (transfer) hydrogenation using the commercially available iron-Tetraphos catalyst is followed by acid catalysed Paal-Knorr condensation. Both formic acid and molecular hydrogen can be used as green reductants in this process. Particularly, under transfer hydrogenation conditions, the homogeneous catalyst shows remarkable reactivity at low temperatures, high functional group tolerance and excellent chemoselectivity transforming a wide variety of substrates. Compared to classical heterogeneous catalysts, this system presents complementing reactivity, showing none of the typical side reactions such as dehalogenation, debenzylation, arene or olefin hydrogenation. It thereby enhances the chemical toolbox in terms of orthogonal reactivity. The methodology was successfully applied to the late-stage modification of multi-functional drug(-like) molecules as well as to the one-pot synthesis of the bioactive agent BM-635.

Cobalt isatin-Schiff-base derivative of MOF as a heterogeneous multifunctional bio-photocatalyst for sunlight-induced tandem air oxidation condensation process

A sunlight-induced tandem air oxidation-condensation of alcohols with ortho-substituted anilines or malononitrile for the efficient synthesis of benz-imidazoles/-oxazoles/-thiazoles, or benzylidene malononitrile catalyzed by Co-isatin-Schiff-base-MIL-101(Fe) as a heterogeneous multifunctional bio-photocatalyst is reported. In these reactions, Co-isatin-Schiff-base-MIL-101(Fe) acts both as a photocatalyst, and a Lewis acid to catalyze the reaction of the in-situ formed aldehydes with o-substituted anilines or malononitrile. A significant decrease in the band gap energy and an increase in the characteristic emission of MIL-101(Fe) after functionalization with cobalt Schiff-base according to the DRS analysis and fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively, indicate that the photocatalytic effectiveness of the catalyst is associated primarily to the synergetic influence of Fe-O cluster and Co-Schiff-base. EPR results obviously pointed out that Co-isatin-Schiff-base-MIL-101(Fe) is capable of creating ¹O₂ and O₂^⋅- as active oxygen species under visible light irradiation. Using an inexpensive catalyst, sunlight irradiation, air as a cost-effective and abundant oxidant, and a low amount of the catalyst with recoverability and durability in ethanol as a green solvent, make this methodology as an environmentally friendly process with energy-saving organic synthetic strategies. Furthermore, Co-isatin-Schiff-base-MIL-101(Fe) displays excellent photocatalytic antibacterial activity under sunlight irradiation against E. coli, S. aureus and S. pyogenes. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report of using a bio-photocatalyst for the synthesis of the target molecules.

3-Substituted Blatter Radicals: Cyclization of N-Arylguanidines and N-Arylamidines to Benzo[e][1,2,4]triazines and PhLi Addition

A series of 3-amino- and 3-alkyl-substituted 1-phenyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yls was prepared in four steps involving N-arylation, cyclization of N-arylguanidines and N-arylamidines, reduction of the resulting N-oxides to benzo[e][1,2,4]triazines, and subsequent addition of PhLi followed by aerial oxidation. The resulting seven C(3)-substituted benzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4-yls were analyzed by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods augmented with density functional theory (DFT) methods. Electrochemical data were compared to DFT results and correlated with substituent parameters.

Design, Synthesis, and Anti-Fungal Evaluation of Heterocyclic Benzoxazole Derivatives

In order to discover more promising anti-fungal agents, a series of benzoxazole family was synthesized by PPA-catalyzed condensation and a Raney nickel/hydrazine reduction. Altogether 45 compounds were obtained in good to excellent yields and characterized by FT-IR, NMR, MS, and X-ray crystal diffraction. Moreover, the biological activity against eight phytopathogenic fungi was investigated. All in all, most of these compounds bear moderate antifungal activities. Among them, three candidates show the strongest activities, compound 4ac, 4bc provided over 50% inhibition rate against five fungi. Especially, the inhibitory rate of compound 4ah on Mycosphaerella melonis reached 76.4%.

Dehydrogenative Synthesis of Quinolines and Quinazolines via Ligand-Free Cobalt-Catalyzed Cyclization of 2-Aminoaryl Alcohols with Ketones or Nitriles

We present a convenient and efficient protocol to synthesize quinolines and quinazolines in one pot under mild conditions. A variety of substituted quinolines were synthesized in good to excellent yields (up to 97% yield) from the dehydrogenative cyclizations of 2-aminoaryl alcohols and ketones catalyzed by readily available Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O. This cobalt catalytic system also showed high activity in the reactions of 2-aminobenzyl alcohols with nitriles, affording various quinazoline derivatives (up to 95% yield). The present protocol offers an environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of N-heterocycles by employing an earth-abundant cobalt salt under ligand-free conditions.

Molecularly Engineering Defective Basal Planes in Molybdenum Sulfide for the Direct Synthesis of Benzimidazoles by Reductive Coupling of Dinitroarenes with Aldehydes

Developing more sustainable catalytic processes for preparing N-heterocyclic compounds in a less costly, compact, and greener manner from cheap and readily available reagents is highly desirable in modern synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of benzimidazoles by reductive coupling of o-dinitroarenes with aldehydes in the presence of molecular hydrogen. An innovative molecular cluster-based synthetic strategy that employs Mo₃S₄ complexes as precursors have been used to engineer a sulfur-deficient molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)-type material displaying structural defects on both the naturally occurring edge positions and along the typically inactive basal planes. By applying this catalyst, a broad range of functionalized 2-substituted benzimidazoles, including bioactive compounds, can be selectively synthesized by such a direct hydrogenative coupling protocol even in the presence of hydrogenation-sensitive functional groups, such as double and triple carbon-carbon bonds, nitrile and ester groups, and halogens as well as diverse types of heteroarenes.

TiO2 nanoparticles decorated with Co-Schiff base-g-C3N4 as an efficient photocatalyst for one-pot visible light-assisted synthesis of benzimidazoles

In this study, a novel heterogeneous visible light-driven nanocatalyst was produced via the complexation of Co(ii) with g-C₃N₄-imine-functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles. It was characterized using different techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalyst promoted several different transformations in a one-pot reaction sequence: aerobic photooxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes and then the tandem synthesis of benzimidazoles through the dehydrogenative coupling of primary benzylic alcohols and aromatic diamines. The photocatalyst proved to be highly active, robust, selective, and recyclable under organic reaction conditions and provided affordable products with good to high yields. The results proposed that the improved photoactivity predominantly benefits from the synergistic effects of the heterojunction of Co-carbon nitride on TiO₂ nanoparticles. Moreover, this protocol provides standard conditions avoiding undesirable additives and limitations of oxidation methods, and may help to develop a new strategy for the development of photocatalysis based organic transformations.

The Co-g-C₃N₄-imine/TiO₂ nanohybrid promotes different transformations in a one-pot reaction sequence: aerobic photooxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes, and then the tandem synthesis of benzimidazoles.

Synthesis of N-Heterocycles via Oxidant-Free Dehydrocyclization of Alcohols Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

N-Heterocycles, such as pyrroles, pyrimidines, quinazolines, and quinoxalines, are important building blocks for organic chemistry and the fine-chemical industry. For their synthesis, catalytic borrowing hydrogen and acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions of alcohols as sustainable reagents have received significant attention in recent years. To overcome the problems of product separation and catalyst reusability, several metal-based heterogeneous catalysts have been reported to achieve these transformations with good yields and selectivity. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments using both noble and non-noble metal-based heterogeneous catalysts to synthesize N-heterocycles from alcohols and N-nucleophiles via acceptorless dehydrogenation or borrowing hydrogen methodologies. Furthermore, this Minireview introduces strategies for the preparation and functionalization of the corresponding heterogeneous catalysts, discusses the reaction mechanisms and the roles of metal electronic states, and the influence of support Lewis acid-base properties on these reactions.

Transition-Metal-Free Transfer Hydrogenative Cascade Reaction of Nitroarenes with Amines/Alcohols: Redox-Economical Access to Benzimidazoles

This report describes an efficient transition-metal-free process toward the transfer hydrogenative cascade reaction between nitroarenes and amines or alcohols. The developed redox-economical approach was realized using a combination of KO^tBu and Et₃SiH as reagents, which allows the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives via σ-bond metathesis. The reaction conditions hold well over a wide range of substrates embedded with diverse functional groups to deliver the desired products in good to excellent yields. The mechanistic proposal has been depicted on the basis of a series of control experiments, mass spectroscopic evidence which is well supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations with a feasible energy profile.

Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed (1,n) annulation using (de)-hydrogenative coupling with alcohols

(1,n) annulation reactions using (de)-hydrogenative coupling with alcohols or diols represent a straightforward technique for the synthesis of cyclic moieties. Utilization of such renewable resources for chemical transformations in a one-pot manner is the main focus, which avoids generation of stoichiometric waste. Application of such (1,n) annulation approaches drives the catalysis research in a more sustainable way and generates dihydrogen and water as by-products. This feature article highlights the recent (from 2015 to March 2021) progress in the synthesis of stereo-selective cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes, saturated and unsaturated N-heterocycles (cyclic amine, imide, lactam, tetrahydro β-carboline, quinazoline, quinazolinone, 1,3,5-triazines etc.) and other N-heterocycles with the formation of multiple bonds in a one pot operation. Mechanistic studies, new catalytic approaches, and synthetic applications including drug synthesis and post-drug derivatization, scope, and limitations are discussed.

UV-visible light-induced photochemical synthesis of benzimidazoles by coomassie brilliant blue coated on W-ZnO@NH2 nanoparticles

Heterogeneous photocatalysts proffer a promising method to actualize eco-friendly and green organic transformations. Herein, a new photochemical-based methodology is disclosed in the preparation of a wide range of benzimidazoles through condensation of o-phenylenediamine with benzyl alcohols in the air under the illumination of an HP mercury lamp in the absence of any oxidizing species catalyzed by a new photocatalyst W–ZnO@NH₂–CBB. In this photocatalyst, coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) is heterogenized onto W–ZnO@NH₂ to improve the surface characteristics at the molecular level and enhance the photocatalytic activity of both W–ZnO@NH₂ and CBB fragments. This unprecedented heterogeneous nanocatalyst is also identified by means of XRD, FT-IR, EDS, TGA-DTG, and SEM. The impact of some influencing parameters on the synthesis route and effects on the catalytic efficacy of W–ZnO@NH₂–CBB are also assessed. The appropriate products are attained for both the electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents in the utilized aromatic alcohols. Furthermore, preparation of benzimidazoles is demonstrated to occur mainly via a radical mechanism, which shows that reactive species such as ·O₂⁻, OH˙ and h⁺ would be involved in the photocatalytic process. Stability and reusability studies also warrant good reproducibility of the nanophotocatalyst for at least five runs. Eventually, a hot filtration test proved that the nanohybrid photocatalyst is stable in the reaction medium. Using an inexpensive catalyst, UV-vis light energy and air, as a low cost and plentiful oxidant, puts this methodology in the green chemistry domain and energy-saving organic synthesis strategies. Finally, the anticancer activity of W–ZnO nanoparticles is investigated on MCF7 breast cancer cells by MTT assay. This experiment reveals that the mentioned nanoparticles have significant cytotoxicity towards the selected cell line.

A new photochemical route is disclosed in the preparation of a wide range of benzimidazoles in air under the illumination of an HP mercury lamp in the absence of any oxidizing species catalyzed by heterogenized W–ZnO@NH₂–CBB.

Recent Developments Towards Synthesis of (Het)arylbenzimidazoles

Benzimidazole is an important heterocycle that is widely researched and utilized by the pharmaceutical industry and is one of the five most commonly used five-membered aromatic heterocyclic compounds approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In view of their wide-ranging bioactivities, systems containing benzimidazole as one of the moieties occupy a special place among other benzimidazole derivatives. Since 2010, many improved synthetic strategies have been developed for the construction of hetaryl- and arylbenzimidazole molecular scaffolds under environmentally benign conditions. This review emphasizes the recent trends and modifications frequently used in the synthesis of derivatives of benzimidazole such as the Phillips–Ladenburg and Weidenhagen reactions, as well as entirely new methods of synthesis, involving oxidative cyclization, cross-coupling, ring distortion strategy, and rearrangements carried out under environmentally benign conditions.

1 Introduction

2 From 1,2-Diaminobenzenes with Various One-Carbon Unit Suppliers

2.1 Phillips–Ladenburg Reaction

2.1.1 With (Het)arenecarboxylic Acids

2.2.2 With (Het)arenecarboxylic Acid Derivatives

2.2 Weidenhagen Reaction

2.2.1 With (Het)arenecarbaldehydes or (Het)aryl Methyl Ketones

2.2.2 With Primary Alcohols

2.2.3 With Primary Alkylamines

2.2.4 With 2-Methylazaarenes

2.2.5 With Other One-Carbon Fragment Suppliers

3 From 2-Haloacetanilides and Amines

4 From Amidines

5 From Tetrahydroquinazolines

6 Mamedov Rearrangement

7 Conclusions and Outlook

Enzymatic electrochemical continuous flow cascade synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles

An industrially practical method for the synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles was developed from an enzymatic electrochemical cascade method.

NaOH-Mediated Direct Synthesis of Quinoxalines from o-Nitroanilines and Alcohols via a Hydrogen-Transfer Strategy

A NaOH-mediated sustainable synthesis of functionalized quinoxalines is disclosed via redox condensation of o-nitroamines with diols and α-hydroxy ketones. Under optimized conditions, various o-nitroamines and alcohols are well tolerated to generate the desired products in 44-99% yields without transition metals and external redox additives.

Recent advances in sustainable synthesis of N-heterocycles following acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling protocol using alcohols

In this review, we have summarized various aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneously catalyzed recent advancements in the synthesis of heterocycles following the ADC approach.

Synthesis, density functional theory (DFT) studies and urease inhibition activity of chiral benzimidazoles

A variety of benzimidazole by the heterocyclization of orthophenylenediamine were synthesized in 69–86% yields. The synthesized compounds 3a-f and 6a-f were characterized and further investigated as jack bean urease inhibitors. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed utilizing the basis set B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) to acquire perception into their structural properties. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis of all compounds 3a–f and 6a-f was computed at the same level of theory to get a notion about their chemical reactivity and stability. The mapping of the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) over the entire stabilized molecular geometry indicated the reactive centers. They exhibited urease inhibition activity with IC50 between 22 and 99 μM. Compounds containing withdrawing groups on the benzene ring (3d, 6d) were not showing significant urease inhibition. The value obtained for 3a, 3b, 3f had shown their significant urease inhibition for both theoretical and experimental. Notably, the compound having S-configuration (3a) (22.26 ± 6.2 μM) was good as compared to its R enantiomer 3f (31.42 ± 23.3 μM). Despite this, we elaborated the computational studies of the corresponding compounds, to highlight electronic effect which include HOMO, LUMO, Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and molecular docking.

Metal-Free Synthesis of Benzimidazoles via Oxidative Cyclization of d-Glucose with o-Phenylenediamines in Water

d-Glucose has been identified as an efficient C1 synthon in the synthesis of benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamines via an oxidative cyclization strategy. Isotopic studies with ¹³C₆-d-glucose and D₂O unambiguously confirmed the source of methine. The notable features of this method include the following: broad functional group tolerance, a biorenewable methine source, excellent reaction yields, a short reaction time, water as an environmentally benign solvent, and the synthesis of vitamin B₁₂ component on the gram scale.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Tandem Transformation of 2-Aminobenzonitriles to Quinazolinones Using Hydration and Dehydrogenative Coupling Strategy

A tandem synthesis of quinazolinones from 2-aminobenzonitriles is demonstrated here by using an aliphatic alcohol-water system. For this transformation, a cheap and easily available cobalt salt and P(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₃ (PP₃) ligand were employed. The substrate scope, scalability, and synthesis of natural products exhibited the vitality of this protocol.

Nickel catalysed construction of benzazoles via hydrogen atom transfer reactions

An air-stable nickel catalyst that promotes two consecutive HAT-mediated dehydrogenations towards furnishing benzazoles.