Visible‐Light‐Induced Multicomponent Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles

Abstract

AbstractAn efficient visible light photocatalyzed one‐pot, three‐component synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles was developed. Catalytic amount of 2,4‐dinitrophenol (2,4‐DNP) was necessary for the successful coupling of anilines, aldehydes and α‐keto vinyl azides to yield imidazoles in the presence of 7 W blue LED light. The scope of the reaction was demonstrated by synthesizing a series of highly functionalized imidazoles in excellent yields (75–86%). Control experiments were carried out and a mechanistic rationalization of the three‐component reaction was proposed.