An expeditious synthetic protocol for chlorination of imidazole N-oxide: Synthesis of 2-chloroimidazoles

Abstract

An expeditious, one-pot and room temperature protocol is reported for the synthesis of 2-chloroimidazoles from imidazole N-oxide. Simple mixing of the imidazole N-oxide, derived easily from diacetyl monoxime via three-component reaction, with oxalyl chloride in an agate mortar and pestle in open air affords the desired products in excellent yields. In view of versatile applications of 2-chloroimidazoles and only two other methods are known in the literatures that suffer from certain drawbacks, the present protocol could be of importance.