Vitamin C as an Effective Organocatalyst for Three and Four‐Component Synthesis of 1,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted Imidazoles

Abstract

AbstractAn efficient multi‐component synthesis of a wide range of pharmaceutically promising tetrasubstituted imidazoles has been reported using inexpensive and safe organocatalyst, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Imidazoles display a broad spectrum of activities in biological and pharmaceutical chemistry. Ascorbic acid, an highly effective H‐bond donor organocatalyst successfully accessed one‐pot imidazole synthesis via both three‐component and four‐component strategy. The core advantages of this approach include environmentally benign synthesis, good to excellent yield, high atom economy, use of easily available starting materials, operational simplicity.