Preparation, lithiation and transformation of N‐(benzotriazol‐1‐ylmethyl) heterocycles

Abstract Indole, carbazole, pyrrole, imidazole, benzimidazole, 2‐methyl‐ and 2‐phenylbenzimidazole, and 1, 2, 4‐triazole have each been converted into their N ‐(benzotriazol‐1‐ylmethyl) derivatives. The pyrrole, indole, and carbazole adducts undergo smooth lithiation at the inter‐ring methylene group and subsequent reaction there with electrophiles. For the imidazole, benzimidazole, and triazole systems, lithiations at other molecular positions competed.