Synthesis of 2-(3-furyl)-1H-benzimidazoles from 2-phenacyl-1H-benzimidazoles

C-Alkylation at the active methylene group of 2-phenacyl-1H-benzimidazoles with phenacyl bromides proceeds highly selectively with the formation of the corresponding 1,4-diketones, which on heating with hydrochloric acid are cyclized with the formation of the previously unknown 2-(2,5-diaryl-3-furyl)-1H-benzimidazoles. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1637–1645, November, 2007.