To a solution of N-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-benzenesulfonamide (100 mg, 0.35 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added 1-bromomethyl-3-trifluoromethyl-benzene (166.4 mg, 0.70 mmol) and potassium carbonate (48 mg). The resulting mixture was heated to 120° C. in a microwave reactor for 1 h and then diluted with EtOAc, washed with H2O and the organic layer was dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue was purified by flash column chromatography (SiO2), eluting with a hexanes-EtOAc gradient to yield N-[1-methyl-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-1,3-dihydro-benzimidazol-2-ylidene]-benzenesulfonamide (2nd compound to elute off the column, 99.0 mg, 64%). MS 446 (M+1)+.
