AUTHOR=Putta Ramachandra Reddy , Chun Simin , Lee Seok Beom , Oh Dong-Chan , Hong Suckchang 

TITLE=Iron-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols With Aromatic Diamines: Selective Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2020.00429

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2020.00429

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Benzimidazoles are important <italic>N</italic>-heteroaromatic compounds with various biological activities and pharmacological applications. Herein, we present the first iron-catalyzed selective synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles <italic>via</italic> acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols with aromatic diamines. The tricarbonyl (η<sup>4</sup>-cyclopentadienone) iron complex catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization, releasing water and hydrogen gas as by-products. The earth abundance and low toxicity of iron metal enable the provision of an eco-friendly and efficient catalytic method for the synthesis of benzimidazoles.</p>