A Novel One-pot Protocol for the Cu-Catalyzed Synthesis of Nine 2-Aminobenzimidazole Derivatives from o-Phenylenediamine and Trichloroacetonitrile

The synthesis of a variety of 2-aminobenzimidazoles via a one pot reaction of ophenylenediamine and trichloroacetonitrile catalyzed by copper (II) acetate in THF at room temperature, with good yields is described. Use of simple and readily available starting materials, good to high yields, free ligand, and no column chromatography are important features of this protocol.