Pd‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of 2‐aroylimidazoles with benzyl alcohols: Access to imidazole functionalized phthalazines and phthalazin‐1(2H)‐ones

Abstract

The palladium‐catalyzed direct oxidative coupling reaction between 2‐aroylimidazoles with aromatic aldehydes or benzyl alcohols under oxidation conditions has been achieved to furnish a variety of carbonyl functionalized 2‐aroylimidazoles in moderate to good yields. The obtained products could be selectively transformed to the corresponding phthalazines and phthalazin‐1(2H)‐ones with hydrazine hydrate as the cyclization partner under different reaction temperature and construct an array of structurally diverse nitrogen‐containing heterocycles.