Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Addition/Cyclization: An Efficient and Versatile Synthesis of <i>N</i>-Substituted 2-Heterobenzimidazoles

Abstract

A novel and efficient one-pot synthesis of various N-substituted 2-heterobenzimidazoles has been developed. Through a Cu(I)-catalyzed cascade intermolecular addition/intramolecular C-N coupling process, a wide variety of 2-heterobenzimidazoles could be synthesized from o-haloarylcarbodiimides and N- or O-nucleophiles.