Concise synthesis of telmisartan via decarboxylative cross-coupling

An efficient synthesis of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan is presented involving a decarboxylative cross-coupling of isopropyl phthalate (1) with 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane (2c) as the key step (85% yield). The benzimidazole moiety is constructed regioselectively via a reductive amination-condensation sequence, replacing the previously published route via alkylation of the preformed benzimidazole. The product is obtained in an overall yield of 35% in a convergent synthesis with the longest sequence consisting of eight steps.