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No abstract

FeF 3 in water facilitated the reaction of 1,2-phenylenediamine / 2-aminothiophenol with 1 equivalent of alkyl/aryl aldehydes leading to 1,3-benzazoles under open air. The process afforded 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles when 1,2-phenylenediamine was reacted with 2 equivalent of aryl aldehydes. The methodology is operationally simple, free from the use of hazardous organic solvent and chemoselective. The products were isolated by simple filtration and the catalyst can be recovered and recycled. 10