title: Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-unsubstituted, N-substituted benzimidazoles.
abstract: An efficient copper-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of formamidines forming 2-unsubstituted benzimidazoles in excellent yields is reported. Sixteen examples bearing sterically demanding substituents on nitrogen like Mes, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, or 2-tert-butylphenyl and tolerating various functional groups demonstrate the utility of this method.
authors.affiliation: Organisch-Chemisches Institut der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Akkattu T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Biju
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glorius