Sonocatalysis and zeolites: An efficient route to prepare N-alkylimidazoles: Kinetic aspects Original Research Article

The synthesis of N-substituted imidazoles via alkylation of imidazole with 1-bromobutane using sonochemical and thermal activations over zeolites (H-ZSM-5, Mordenite, H-Beta and H-Y) is reported. The effect of the acidity and channel size of zeolites on the activity and selectivity of imidazole alkylation was investigated in a liquid phase. The N-alkylimidazoles are important intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals with antiviral properties. N-alkylimidazoles were obtained in high yields (>80%) as main product (100% selectivity) under mild conditions, ultrasound (US) activation at 333 K in only 1 h, when Mordenite and NH4Y zeolites were used as catalysts.