Cu(II)-Catalyzed Cascade of -Phenyl--phenylenediamine with Benzaldehyde: One-Step Direct Construction of 2-(1-Phenyl-1-benzo[]imidazol-2-yl)phenols.

A practical protocol for the construction of hydroxylated 2-(1-phenyl-1-benzo[]imidazol-2-yl)phenols (PBIs) from -phenyl--phenylenediamine with benzaldehydes was developed. The cascade reaction was enabled by heating a mixture of the two substrates in the presence of air as an oxidant and anhydrous Cu(OAc) as a catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide, and a diverse series of PBIs were synthesized in moderate to good yields (69-81%). Furthermore, the synthesis of the PBIs was enabled via a one-pot cascade reaction that proceeded through subsequent dehydration condensation, intramolecular cyclization, and aromatic C-H hydroxylation.