1-(Bromomethyl)-2-phenylbenzene → Biphenyl imidazole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 4.07 g (32.8 mmol) of 2-butylimidazole (obtained from step 1) in 110 mL of DMF was added 44.3 mL (44.3 mmol) of potassium tert-butoxide (1M in THF), and the resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 15 min. To the dark brown mixture was added 20.1 g (36.1 mmol) of the bromomethyl biphenyl. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in chloroform and washed with water. The aqueous layer was extracted with fresh chloroform, and the combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by chromatography to give 7.2 g (37%) of the biphenyl imidazole intermediate as a yellow oil which solidified as a glass: 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.90 (t, J=7.31 Hz, 3H), 1.35 (septet, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.71 (quintet, J=7.74 Hz, 2H), 2.61 (t, J=7.58 Hz, 2H), 4.93 (s, 2H), 6.65 (d, J=1.35 Hz, 1H), 6.79 (d, J=8.31 Hz, 2H), 6.92 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 6H), 6.97 (d, J=1.32 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.2-7.4 (m, 10H), 7.4-7.55 (m, 2H), 7.95 (dd, J=6.85, 2.08 Hz, 1H); MS(FAB) m/e (relative intensity) 607 (100, M+Li), 601 (90, M+H).

Provenance & Evidence