Facile synthesis of trisubstituted imidazoles from 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl carboxylates and their chemiluminescence

A facile synthesis of trisubstituted imidazoles containing furan rings was reported. Imidazoles were produced from 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl carboxylates over solid alumina as solid support impregnated with ammonium acetate under solvent-free microwave-assisted conditions. The method possessed many remarkable advantages, such as the short reaction time (5–10 min), affording moderate to excellent yields and saving resources, conveniently operating process, which provided an attractive and environmentally-friendly approach for the synthesis of the important heterocyclic compounds. Moreover, the chemiluminescence property of some compounds synthesized has been investigated.