Research on imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives. 22. Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazoles starting from 2-imino-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)benzimidazolines

A -elimination reaction with the formation of 2-imino-3-vinylbenzimidazolines occurs simultaneously with intramolecular alkylation and the formation of an imidazoline ring in the action of alcoholic alkali on 2-imino-3-(2-chloroethyl) benzimidazolines. The thermolysis of 3-chlorethyl-substituted imines without a solvent or in an inert solvent leads exclusively to 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a] benzimidazoles. An attempt to obtain the latter directly from 2-imino-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) benzimidazolines by the action of a mixture of thionyl chloride and acetic anhydride on them also leads to ambiguous results.See [1] for communication 21.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 918–925, July, 1986.