Ferrocenyl aniline modified electrode for the electrochemical synthesis of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole

Abstract

Ferrocenyl aniline is an excellent catalyst used conventionally for heterocyclic syntheses. The use of ferrocenyl aniline, in the presence of electropolymerized thiophene-3-acetic acid (TAA) on carbon fibre paper is novel and found to be an exceptional electrocatalyst, for the synthesis of a proven anti-fungal, anti-proliferative and anti-bacterial, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole. The electrode performance was examined with activity studies and EIS, along with surface characterizations including optical profilometry, FE-SEM, FT-IR and XPS. The synthesis was performed in a single-cell three electrode system, using platinum as counter and saturated calomel electrode (SCE) as the reference, with ethanol as the electrolyte and lithium perchlorate supporting electrolyte. The reaction was performed with o-phenylenediamine and anisaldehyde as starting materials at ambient temperature and pressure, at 1.35 V constant potential for 3 h, and product was isolated and purified using column chromatography to obtain 91% yield and characterized with GC–MS and NMR. This synthesis method is noteworthy, due to its environmentally friendly performance, and high yield for a benzimidazole derivative that is pharmacologically vital.