Ytterbium Triflate Promoted Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives

Abstract

Differently substituted benzimidazoles have been synthesised in very good yields in solvent-free conditions from o-phenylenediamine and aldehydes in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 as catalyst. The method is applicable to aromatic, unsaturated and ­aliphatic aldehydes and to substituted o-phenylenediamines without significant differences.