A Novel Method for the One-Pot Synthesis of Imidazole Derivatives in the Presence of Potassium Persulfate (KPS) as a Free Radical Initiator

Imidazoles are one of the most important five-membered ring heteroaromatic nitrogenbearingcompounds that show a broad range of pharmaceutical, industrial and various biologicalactivity [1-2]. Organic peroxides each have a peroxide bond (-O-O-), which is readilycleaved to give two oxygen centered radicals. Among these, one of the strongest known radicalinitiator agents is potassium persulfate (KPS). KPS is widely used as a free radical initiatorin industrial processes such as polymer synthesis and chemical oxidant and also used as achemical reagent for Minisci reaction [3]. However, until now, the synthesis of heterocyclecmpounds using thermally activated potassium persulfate is not reported. We have successfullydeveloped a novel and efficient method to prepare a variety of 2,4,5 trisubstituted and1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazole derivatives in the presence of potassium persulphate as afree radical initiator for the first time. Low cost of the starting materials, solvent free conditions,short reaction times, simple performance, easy work-up and good to excellent yields aresome of the advantages of this procedure.