Highly efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of 2-alkyl and 2-aryl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazoles under mild conditions

Highly efficient one-pot reactions of benzil or benzoin, ammonium acetate, and aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes were carried out in water in the presence of 1-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Hmim]TFA) under mild and green conditions. This approach can be useful for the three-component synthesis of 2-alkyl- and 2-aryl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazoles in high yields. By conducting the reactions in aqueous media, the solid products were precipitated and could be isolated simply by filtration.