Synthesis and some transformations of 1-methyl-2-(thiophen-3-yl)-1H-benzimidazole

Abstract

1-Methyl-2-(thiophen-3-yl)-1H-benzimidazole was synthesized by the Weidenhagen reaction, followed by N-methylation. Electrophilic substitution reactions of the title compound, in particular nitration, bromination, sulfonation, formylation, and acylation, were studied. The formylation and acylation in polyphosphoric acid afforded mixtures of 2- and 5-substituted isomers at the thiophene ring. The nitration of 1-methyl-2-(thiophen-3-yl)-1H-benzimidazole involved the thiophene ring or both thiophene and benzene fragments, depending on the conditions. Steric arrangement of the heterocycles in the 1-methyl-2-(thiophen-3-yl)-1H-benzimidazole molecule was analyzed by quantum chemical calculations.