Benzoyl methyl phosphates as efficient reagents in the one-pot tandem approach for the synthesis of 2-phenylbenzimidazoles in water†
Abstract
A novel and efficient method for the environmentally benign, catalyst- and auxiliary-free synthesis of 2-phenylbenzimidazoles in water is developed. Benzoyl methyl phosphates play important roles as biomimetic acylating agents for the one-pot tandem approach without additional catalysts.