CuI-Catalyzed Amination of Arylhalides with Guanidines or Amidines: A Facile Synthesis of 1-<i>H</i>-2-Substituted Benzimidazoles

Abstract

CuI/L5 (N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine) proves to be an efficient catalyst system for the amination of arylhalides with guanidines. The same catalyst system is then successfully applied to the one-step synthesis of 1-H-2-amino-benzimidazoles through tandem aminations of 1,2-dihaloarenes in modest yields. This methodology is also applicable for the preparation of 1-H or 1-substutituted 2-aryl- or 2-alkyl-benzimidazoles.