Regioselective symmetrical bromination of protected 2,2′‐biimidazole

Treatment of the benzyl and (trimethylsilylethoxymethyl) SEM protected 2,2′‐biimidazoles, 2a and 2b , with 2 equivalents of N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) allows obtaining the 5,5′‐dibromo and 4,4′‐dibromo substituted biimidazoles, 3a and 5b respectively. The use of 4 equivalents of NBS, followed by treatment of the corresponding tetrabromoderivatives 4a and 5b with butyl lithium (BuLi), yields the 4,4′‐dibromoderiva‐tives 5a (G=Bn) and 5b (G=SEM).