Mercury chloride assisted cyclization toward benzimidazoles by focused microwave irradiation

An efficient, microwave-assisted method for the mercury chloride mediated synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles has been developed. Biologically interesting benzimidazoles were readily assembled utilizing SNAr reactions, reduction, and followed with mercury(II) mediated cyclization under microwave irradiation. The desired products were then liberated from the soluble matrix in excellent yield and purity after cleavage.