2-Trifluoromethylimidazole, 2,4,5-tris (trifluoromethyl)imidazole and related compounds

2-Trifluoromethylimidazole, prepared by the reaction of imidazole-2-carboxylic acid with sulphur tetrafluoride, afforded a silver salt which reacted with organohalides (bromomethane, ethyl bromoacetate, N,N-dimethyl-2-chloroethylamine, and chloroacetonitrile) to give the corresponding N-alkylated derivatives. 2-Trifluoromethylimidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid was obtained by oxidation of 2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, and on decarboxylation gave only traces of 2-trifluoromethylimidazole; the major product was 2-trifluoromethylimidazole- 4-carboxylic acid. The di-acid and sulphur tetrafluoride gave 2,4,5-tris (trifluoromethyl) imidazole.