Synthesis of α‐Benzylthiobenzimidazoleacetonitriles and Their Chemoselective Reduction of the Double Bond with NaBH4

Condensation of 2‐((1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)thio)acetonitre 1 with aromatic aldehydes in methanol containing piperidine gave the corresponding 2‐((1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)thio)‐3‐arylacrylonitrile 2 , which on treatment with NaBH₄ in ethanol unexpectedly and chemoselectively gave 2‐((1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)thio)‐3‐arylpropanenitrile 3 by the reduction of the double bond of 2 . 3 on methylation with dimethyl sulfate containing K₂CO₃ as a base and tetrabutylammonium bromide as PTC gave 2‐((1‐methylbenzimidazol‐2‐yl)thio)‐3‐arylpropanenitrile 6 . The latter could also be prepared in an alternative way by reaction of 1 with dimethyl sulfate giving the intermediary 2‐((1‐methylbenzimidazol‐2‐yl)thio)acetonitrile 4 , followed by condensation with aromatic aldehydes yielding 5 and subsequent reduction of 5 with NaBH₄ in methanol. 6 could be directly synthesized by treatment of 4 with benzyl chloride in DMF and triethylamine as a base at 60°C for 5 h.