Abstract
The title compound (5) has been prepared in one pot by refluxing 1‐(1‐alkyl/aralkyl‐1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐yl)‐ethanone (1) with substituted o‐phenylenediamine (2) in ethanol in the presence of iodine. Alternatively, 5 could also be prepared by treating 2‐bromo‐1‐(1‐ alkyl/aralkyl‐1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐yl)‐ethanone (3A) with 2 in refluxing ethanol. The formation of 5 from 1 and 2 probably occurs through the intermediacy of 3B (i.e., 3, X=I) and 4.
Acknowledgment
The authors are highly indebted to the University Grants Commission, Government of India, New Delhi, for financial support.