Synthesis of 1-(2-bromo-1-arylethyl)-1H-benzotriazoles via NBS promoted addition of 1H-benzotriazole to alkene: Relevance in benzotriazole ring cleavage

Abstract

A cost-effective and expeditious one-pot synthesis of 1-(2-bromo-1-arylethyl)-1H-benzotriazoles has been devised by reacting styrene and their derivatives with 1H-benzotriazole in presence of N-bromosuccinimide in anhydrous CH2Cl2 at room temperature. Further, the resulted compounds undergo E2-ellimination to afford the respective 1-(1-aryl-vinyl)-1H-benzotriazoles. At the end, 1-(1-phenylvinyl)-1H-benzotriazoles underwent benzotriazole ring cleavage (BtRC) under free radical condition to produce phenanthridine as the final product.