Conversion of acids to benzimidazoles with transition metal/zeolites

Transition metal/Y zeolites were prepared using microwave solid state and aqueous solution ion exchange methods. The activity of these zeolites was investigated in a conversion of acids to benzimidazoles reaction between 4-methyl-1, 2-phenylenediamine and 3-nitrobenzoic acid. The yield of these reactions increased in order of CuY < Fe²⁺Y < NiY < CoY < NaY < CrY < MnY < ZnY for both methods. The solid state ion-exchanged zeolites showed higher activity in comparison to the aqueous solution exchange. Yields of products in the presence of the ZnY zeolite were of the order of 69–83%. It seems that the Lewis sites are better sites compared to the Bronsted sites for this reaction.