Photochemically induced chloromethylation/cyclization of benzimidazole derivatives with CCl4/CHCl3

Org Biomol Chem. 2023 Nov 8;21(43):8690-8694. doi: 10.1039/d3ob01290e.

Abstract

Herein, it is reported that a series of trichloromethyl/dichloromethyl substituted benzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized by dechlorination of CCl4/CHCl3 to form polychloromethyl radicals and cyclization with an unactivated olefin under a purple LED lamp. The protocol features a wide substrate scope, high atom economy, and excellent regioselectivity, and is easy to scale up.