Selective Synthesis of Benzimidazoles from o-Phenylenediamine and Aldehydes Promoted by Supported Gold Nanoparticles

We investigated the catalytic efficacy of supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) towards the selective reaction between o-phenylenediamine and aldehydes that yields 2-substituted benzimidazoles. Among several supported gold nanoparticle platforms, the Au/TiO2 provides a series of 2-aryl and 2-alkyl substituted benzimidazoles at ambient conditions, in the absence of additives and in high yields, using the mixture CHCl3:MeOH in ratio 3:1 as the reaction solvent. Among the AuNPs catalysts used herein, the Au/TiO2 containing small-size nanoparticles is found to be the most active towards the present catalytic methodology. The Au/TiO2 can be recovered and reused at least five times without a significant loss of its catalytic efficacy. The present catalytic synthetic protocol applies to a broad substrate scope and represents an efficient method for the formation of a C-N bond under mild reaction conditions. Notably, this catalytic methodology provides the regio-isomer of the anthelmintic drug, Thiabendazole, in a lab-scale showing its applicability in the efficient synthesis of such N-heterocyclic molecules at industrial levels.