“…This can be indicative that the reaction probably occurs via path a, with the formation of A, followed by 1,3-hydride transfer, according to previous suggestions. 32,36,41,47 However, the formation of 2-(2-furyl)benzimidazole 3j in minor yield in the case of furylaldehyde (Table I) can be explained possibly through path b involving the formation of dihydrobenzimidazole C intermediate followed by dehydrative oxidation in air to yield 2-arylbenzimidazole 3, as suggested by Xiangming 48 and Zelenin et al 49 A direct oxidative condensation of aldoses with diamines using molecular iodine in AcOH has already been reported for an improved synthesis of aldo-benzimidazoles and aldo-naphthimidazoles, which supports the observations in this work. 50 It is important to emphasize that, when these reactions were conducted under nitrogen atmosphere, no formation of compound 3 was detected and compounds 2a-m were isolated as the sole products in slightly improved yields.…”