A fast, highly efficient and green protocol for one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubsti-tuted imidazoles catalyzed by [TBA]2[W 6O19] as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract

A simple and efficient synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles was achieved via a one-pot three-component cyclocondensation of benzil, aromatic aldehydes, and ammonium acetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium hexatungstate [TBA]2[W6O19] as a heterogeneous catalyst under thermal solvent-free conditions. The key features of this methodology are operational simplicity, high yields, short reaction times, and a recyclable catalyst with a very easy work up.