Polyethylene glycol (PEG-400): An efficient and recyclable reaction medium for the synthesis of novel 1, 5-benzodiazepines and their antimicrobial activity

A new series of imidazole-containing 1, 5-benzodiazepines have been synthesized by the condensation of chalcones with o-phenylenediamine using piperidine in polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as an efficient and green reaction solvent. The advantages of this protocol are environmental friendliness, easy work-up, high yields, mild reaction condition and avoidance of expensive catalyst. Furthermore, newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. (C) 2010 Bhaskar S. Dawane. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.